Introduction
Vulnerable populations imply the groups of people with increased exposure to risk factors or the susceptibility to health conditions. Vulnerability to a particular health condition is marked by a relatively higher mortality rate, shorter longevity, low access to health care services, and reduce life quality. The vulnerable populations attribute their status to disenfranchised discrimination, and marginalization from a typical social population (Thomas & William, 1997).
Certain societal challenges including poverty, insufficient access to health care provisions, insufficient education, and social disparity increase the risks to STDs in specific social groups. Further, lack of openness and distorted messages concerning sexuality impedes STD prevention in the general social populations and is accountable for the concealment of STDs. Thus the proceeding paragraphs will focus on the social factors which affect STDs prevalence within a community (Thomas. & William, 1997).
Media relevance to risky behaviors
According to research, the U.S. younger population is spending most of their day with electronic media. Also, American adolescents are indulging themselves in various risky behaviors that require an enormous societal cost. Above 20% of American high school learners indulge in sexual intercourse for the first time prior to age 14. Also, teenagers commit 41% of multiple-offender and 28% of the single-offender vicious crimes in the U.S. in 2005 (Escobar-Chaves & Andersons, 2008).
Poor access to health care services
Health insurance coverage allows persons to access specialized services that help prevent STDs risk factors as well as treatment for suspected STDs conditions. Poor individuals who have the problem of accessing health insurance may have difficulties accessing professional services for health services including STDs. Noteworthy, a poverty-stricken person may sense his or her exposure to STDs but may not observe preventive measures in the case where some risks appear more threatening or imminent.
Substance abuse
Drug and alcohol abuse is associated with STD prevalence. STDs prevalence is high demographical settings where the rate of substance abuse, especially alcohol and drug abuse are high; and the rates of substance abuse co-vary temporarily with STDs prevalence (Greenberg et al., 1991). From the personal perspective, Marx et al. (1991), argues that substance abuse may impair a person’s social and cognitive proficiency, rendering it difficult to take protective measures against STDs.
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse against children determines the spread of STDs among children. In addition, women who may have been exposed to sexual abuse in childhood are twice as much prone to contracting STDs as women who did not have such a history (Plichta and Abraham, 1996). Further, women who had the childhood experience of sexual violence are more likely to indulge in sex at an earlier age (Miller et al., 1995).
Most STD medical reports for children postneonatal period attribute to sexual abuse. Children who have experienced sexual abuse are prone to persistent severe psychological effects and may become sexual abusers particularly to other children (Guidry, 1995). Besides, they may indulge in habits that frequently prone them to further abuse leading to their contraction of STDs.
Reference List
Escobar-Chaves, S. L., & Anderson, C. A. (2008). Media and Risky Behaviors. Web.
Greenberg, M. S. Z., Singh T. Htoo M. Schultz S. (1991). The association between congenital syphilis and cocaine/crack use in New York City: a case-control study. Am J public Health 1991; 81; 1316-8.
Miller B. C., Monsoon, B. H., Norton M. C., (1995). The effects of forced sexual intercourse on white female adolescent. Child abuse Negl vol 19; 1289-301.
Thomas, E. R. & William, B. T. (Eds) (1997). The hidden epidemic: confronting sexually transmitted Disease. Institute of medicine (U.S.); committee on prevention and control of sexually transmitted disease. Washington, D. C.: National Academy Press.