Introduction
The rise of STIs among 15-19-year-old African American adolescents in Georgia is not simply a health problem but a societal issue that even speaks about more profound systemic injustices. The vision of the “Hand in Hand” program is to make it a shining example of change, which will break this gloomy pattern of the movement towards education, preventive measures, and creating a supportive environment. This program seeks to equip adolescents with strategies they can adopt to prevent them from harm and contribute to society’s overall well-being.
Needs Assessment
History of the Problem
In Georgia’s African American adolescents, the rates of STIs, especially those of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea, are surprisingly high compared to what is observed in other ethnic subgroups. This significant disparity arises from a complex intersection of historical, societal, and economic factors that have reliably limited access to healthcare, education, and social services for African American communities. For socioeconomic statuses and education levels, historical mistrust of the healthcare system based on previous injustices and current inequities contributes significantly to the increased vulnerability of these youths to STIs (Prather et al., 2016). These factors create a hostile environment for African American youths, who are especially threatened. Therefore, the danger of using this vulnerable community group must be addressed through targeted interventions for this public health problem.
Many factors contribute to the increase in STIs among African American adolescents in Georgia, including poor sexual health education that does not reach this demographic, limited access to health services, and persistent socioeconomic barriers denying access to care in this society (Burns et al., 2020). Additionally, open discussion of sexual health is considered taboo among these communities, and it has further worsened the situation as it discourages youth from knowing and taking advice from any source. Furthermore, one finds that these problems are also significantly complicated by systemic biases inherent to the healthcare delivery systems themselves, in that they form inaccessible barriers for these adolescents, making it even more difficult for them to receive care and support as necessary. These interconnected elements elucidate the complexity of the STI epidemic in African American teens that should be solved by a multi-dimensional and holistic approach to respond to these challenges.
This public health dilemma is frequently encountered by African American high school students in Georgia who are from the age group of 15-19 years because of age-dependent risk behaviors and systemic barriers to healthcare. The social determinants of health, which include the economic and educational disparities of these teens, significantly fuel their risk of STIs (Scheidell et al., 2018). The target community’s specific conditions call for the importance of focusing on targeted STI public health interventions that should be tailor-made for this community. Understanding the conditions, events, and factors behind the causation of the disease, as well as the people subjected to the disease, can help the stakeholders develop appropriate culturally sensitive strategies to ensure the health outcomes of the African American adolescents in Georgia.
Seriousness/Consequences of the Problem
The consequences of the STIs associated with adolescents, especially those associated with African Americans in Georgia, go beyond the health implications of these infections. Due to STIs untreated, reproductive health can significantly deteriorate and lead to infertility and ectopic pregnancy and be a severe risk to both partners to contract HIV. Apart from the health consequences, an STI diagnosis is also accompanied by psychological and social issues, for instance, stigmas and mental health issues (Singh & Singh, 2021). These impacts may profoundly change adolescents’ lives, as they suffer from low self-esteem, the pain of being rejected, improper influences of others, or wounds in their thoughts. The profound impact of STIs indicates the urgent need to consider these diseases’ medical and general aspects.
The STI crisis among African American adolescents in Georgia is indicative of the severity of health differences that negate this demographic. The fact that this grouping has exceptionally high rates of STI not only reflects inequality in access to health and education services but even goes further to aggravate the same injustice, setting back those affected on their life path. This spiral of health inequality has far-reaching implications because the lack of quality educational attainment affects not just the social performance of these youngsters but also their future economic prosperity (National Academies Press (US), 2017). The continuity of such dissimilarities emphasizes the importance of collective action to address the underlying causes of this public health concern, emphasizing fair access to medical care and sexual health coaching.
In addition, widespread public ramifications of high STIs include the increasing cost of health care and the continuous cycle of transmission, thereby highlighting the need for focus interventions. These interventions must also target both the medical and social dimensions of the STI epidemic, understanding that stigma surrounding issues of sex health works against efforts at defeating the plague. The solution to the problem of STIs among African American teens in Georgia should be through an all-inclusive approach that will go beyond the provision of an STI service desk but also remove the stigma and improve the community’s health literacy.
Solution
The “Hand in Hand” program provides a multi-dimensional solution to the issue of STI rates among African American adolescents in Georgia, focusing on education, access to health care, and community engagement. The students receive age-appropriate sexual health education under the program that is culturally suitable and stigma-free, meaning that students learn how to avoid STIs and realize the need for regular health check-ups. The mobile health units that offer free, confidential screening and treatment services administered during school hours and through these mobile health units are critical in helping to overcome obstacles that could prevent students from accessing essential Medicare. Moreover, by forming alliances with various local groups, healthcare providers, and parents, “Hand in Hand” seeks to create a supportive environment that ensures good living through an active lifestyle free from health stigma.
The integrated approach is supported by evidence-based practices emphasizing the power of connected education, non-discriminatory care, and community involvement in public health efforts. However, studies and earlier attempts have revealed the potential to significantly decrease STI cases and improve the quality of life in adolescents (Morales et al., 2018). For instance, the combination of sexual health education with screening services has resulted in a significant decline in STI cases in different programs (Sani et al., 2016); it shows the potential of “Hand in Hand” to bring about the apparent change in the population base. The program is also comprehensive as it addresses the problem from both the medical and social side, which helps to understand why STI infections are so high among African American adolescents in Georgia. Therefore, it does so with a unique and favorable position to help create a brighter future for these at-risk population segments.
Conclusion
The Hand in Hand program offers a plausible and comprehensive solution to the menacing problem of STIs as a burden to African American adolescents in Georgia. The program aims to support adolescents to become more responsible toward their sexual health decisions by providing them with education, accessible healthcare, and structured communities. This strategy goes beyond addressing the impending health challenges; it even addresses the social determinants that can create healthy communities and perspectives for the next generation.
References
Burns, P. A., Mena, L. A., & Crosby, R. L. (2020). Foretelling the Future: Predicting STI Diagnosis and Its Implications for Ending the HIV Epidemic among Black Men Who Have Sex with Men. Journal of urban health: bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine, 97(5), 642–652. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-019-00413-w
Morales, A., Espada, J. P., Orgilés, M., Escribano, S., Johnson, B. T., & Lightfoot, M. (2018). Interventions to reduce risk for sexually transmitted infections in adolescents: A meta-analysis of trials, 2008-2016. PloS one, 13(6), e0199421. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0199421
National Academies Press (US) (2017) The root causes of health inequity. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425845/.
Prather, C., Fuller, T. R., Marshall, K. J., & Jeffries, W. L., 4th (2016). The Impact of Racism on the Sexual and Reproductive Health of African American Women. Journal of women’s health (2002), 25(7), 664–671. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2015.5637
Sani, A. S., Abraham, C., Denford, S., & Ball, S. (2016). School-based sexual health education interventions to prevent STI/HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health, 16(1), 1069. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3715-4
Scheidell, J. D., Beau De Rochars, V. M., Séraphin, M. N., Hobbs, M. M., Morris, J. G., Jr, Célestin, J. P., Cottler, L. B., & Khan, M. R. (2018). Socioeconomic Vulnerability and Sexually Transmitted Infection Among Pregnant Haitian Women. Sexually transmitted diseases, 45(9), 626–631. https://doi.org/10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000861
Singh, S., & Singh, S. K. (2021). Psychological health and well-being in patients with sexually transmitted infections: A prospective cross-sectional study. Indian journal of sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS, 42(2), 125–131. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijstd.IJSTD_77_19
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