Introduction
Communicating risks or crisis is crucial in many public health encounters. Risks and crises are likely to occur in every public health interaction and the method of communication remains significant (Maibach, Abroms and Marosits 9). In the public health campaign of STDs among the youth, effective crisis or risk communication is not only crucial in managing potential problems that embolden concern and trust between interventionists and the youths but also to promote practical actions that dispel social issues.
The importance of utilizing crisis or risk communication as a public health leader
Crisis or risk communication is important in the provision of information concerning the health problems related to STDs. Crisis or risk communication is important in managing potential problems in a way that emboldens concern and trust between interventionists and the youths (Snyder 34). Crisis or risk communication is also important in disseminating information regarding the potential crisis and emergency situations during the STDs campaigns among the youths. Besides, crisis or risk communication is applied to promote prudent action and reduce panic associated with contracting STDs among the youths (Luca and Suggs 29). In fact, risk communication will be applied to react to issues considered to be the source of public attention. The crisis or risk communication will be significant in dispelling the negative perceptions and doubts that might be created during the campaigns (Hanan 150).
One way the crisis or risk communication might be used in public health campaigns on STDs among the youth
The crisis or risk communication strategy might be applied when the perceptions of the public health campaign are potentially damaging (Samkange-Zeeb, Spallek and Zeeb 18). Issues related to STDs among the youth are often sensitive due to social stigmatization (Chinsembu 111). The social stigmatization may cast shadows and doubts concerning the credibility of the public health campaigns particularly among the infected youths (Glanz, Rimer and Viswanath 73). Besides, a crisis might develop when an allegation that creates a negative perception concerning the public health campaigns emerges. Under these circumstances, crisis or risk communications is applied to communicate the right information to the target audience and the public (Resnick and Siegel 24).
The consequences of not utilizing the crisis or risk communication
Crisis and risks are consequential and unpredictable. In other words, crises and risks in most of the health campaigns strategies arise unknowingly. One of the common characteristics of the crises in health campaigns is that they are hypothetically destructive (Parker and Thorson 54). Crises and risks have the possibility of damaging the intended health intervention and distort the desirable information. Besides, they generate undesirable impression by the general public concerning the initiated public health programs (Randolph and Viswanath 425). Therefore, without a crisis or risk communication plan to manage the crisis situation all the interventions and programs put in place might be disrupted. Lack of crisis or risk communication plan also implies deficiency of control. As such, public health leaders should find should adopt crisis or risk communication plan to handle the crisis of risk situations.
Conclusion
Effective risk or communication of public health campaigns of STDs have increased potential of informing the youth about hazards to their health. In fact, crisis or risk communication can be used to manage potential issues related to STDs in a way that portray benevolence and reassure practical actions that result in the reduction of panic. Having a crisis or risk communication plan is significant in averting problems that may a rise during the public health campaigns of STDs among the youth.
Works Cited
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Resnick, Elissa and Michael Siegel. Marketing Public Health: Strategies to Promote Social Change. Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning, 2013. Print.
Samkange-Zeeb, Florence, Lena Spallek and Hajo Zeeb. “Awareness and Knowledge of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) among School-going Adolescents in Europe: A Systematic Review of Published Literature”. BMC Public Health, 11.2 (2011): 7-27. Print.
Snyder, Leslie B. “Health Communication Campaigns and their Impact on Behavior”. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 39.2 (2008): 32-40. Print.