Virginia Department of Health Sexually Thesis

The State Division of HIV/STD works with local health districts to provide Chlamydia screening to all adolescents receiving pelvic examinations at STD clinics, at family planning clinics or at prenatal clinics. Although the VDH does strive to test the male partners of infected females, the emphasis of the program is obviously slanted to screening and treating females. Women and girls in general are also more likely to seek medical care, for all ailments. The Division of HIV/STD of the VHS provides educators the resources "to counsel selected high-risk teens and locate contacts for treatment. This Division also collects and disseminates aggregate data on all reportable STDs in Virginia," although again this may, because of its focus on public health clinics, disproportionately emphasize low-income youth (Adolescent, 2009, VHD). "The Division also funds HIV prevention programs targeting youth. Programs include prevention education for at-risk communities and populations and 19 projects to reach racial and ethnic minority youth and other high-risk youth" (Adolescent, 2009, VHD).

Discuss the community health nurse's role in solving this problem (STD)

There is an obvious lack of male-specific programs in screening for STDs, and also for educating males. Males are even more likely to be asymptomatic than females and are less likely to visit public health clinics. A community health nurse must act as a teacher and advocate of health promotion, screening, and knowledge for all communities, and for both genders. Although the current demographic data in Virginia may indicate that certain specific communities have wider outbreaks of STDs, the literature should not create the impression that STDs are not a problem state and nation-wide for all communities. While the images and messages of the teaching literature may be community-specific, the overall message conveyed by the nurse when speaking to patients is that they should get tested if there is any chance they could be at risk for exposure. As STDs are communicable and often asymptomatic, this is essential.

The nurse must strike a delicate balance: the nurse must be tolerant of different sexual practices and attitudes without mitigating the seriousness of the problem. Adolescents must learn to take responsibility for their sexuality, and adults must not be lured into a sense of false complacency because of their age or because their community or demographic is not specifically highlighted as 'high risk' by the state or federal health agencies.

References

Adolescent services. (2009, May 28). The Virginia Department of Health. Retrieved January 27,

2010 at http://www.vahealth.org/adolescenthealth/services.htm

Mission, role, priorities, and function. (2008, July 16). The Virginia Department of Health.

Retrieved January 27, 2010 at http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/Administration/BOH/mission.htm

STD prevention program. (2007). The Virginia Department of Health. Retrieved January 27,

2010 at http://www.vdh.state.va.us/epidemiology/DiseasePrevention/Programs/STD/index.htm