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(STDs)
Goals/Objectives
The group will be able to identify the most common STDs, summarize appropriate prevention measures and recognize high-risk behaviors.
Instructional Procedure
Focusing Event/Icebreaker
See suggestions in Ice Breaker page
Teaching Procedure
Assess the level of awareness concerning topic.
What do they know about HIV, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, chlamydia and genital herpes?
Facilitate discussion and participation
Encourage sharing of opinions/experiences or questions/concerns.
High-Risk Behaviors
High-risk behaviors are those behaviors that increase a persons risk for contracting a sexually transmitted disease:
Multiple sexual partners A history of STDs
Practice of unprotected sex or the use of non-barrier types of protection
IV drug use and the sharing of dirty needles
Reckless drug or alcohol use
HIV - An Overview
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that destroys the immune system and affects the body's ability to fight infection.
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the deadly final phase of the HIV infection.
Many illnesses that attack patients with AIDS do not usually cause disease in healthy persons.
Illnesses and infections of this type are often called opportunistic infections.
They normally do not have an opportunity to cause serious disease in persons whose immune systems are intact.
HIV does not discriminate between individuals. Men, women and children from all races, ethnicities, communities and sexual orientations can contract HIV. Presently, there is no cure for this fatal disease. However, treatment can slow the progression of HIV.
Signs and Symptoms of HIV
Swollen lymph nodes
Persistent fatigue and general feelings of poor health
Recurring or prolonged fevers, chills, or night sweats
Sore throat
Increased susceptibility to colds, yeast infections, cold sores, fungal infections in the mouth, and others infections
Loss of appetite and unintentional weight loss
Cough or breathing problems
Changes in bowel habits, such as frequent diarrhea or constipation
Outbreaks of skin rashes or discolorations, especially purplish lesions
Tenderness or pain in the muscles and joints
Vision disturbances Memory loss, confusion, and personality changes
Transmission
Primarily through sexual contact and by contact with infected blood or blood products
Through sexual activity (vaginal, anal or oral) and contact with an infected persons blood, semen and/or vaginal secretions
Any open wound or abrasion that comes in contact with the body fluids of an infected person
Sharing needles for the purpose of drug use or administration with an infected individual
Pregnant women may pass the virus to their unborn children
Prevention and Treatment
Uninfected persons should avoid sexual contact with persons from the high risk groups or those known to be infected with the virus
Limit number of sexual partners or practice abstinence
Practice "safe sex" which involves the use of latex condoms to decrease risk of transmission, avoiding sexual practices such as unprotected anal intercourse and oral-genital contact
Infected women should avoid pregnancy which could increase the risk of AIDS and often leads to the birth of an infected infant
Presently, there is no cure for this fatal disease. However, treatment can slow the progression of HIV.
Syphilis - An Overview
Syphilis is a highly contagious sexually transmitted disease that can cause severe damage in almost every organ in the body.
This disease is treatable but if left untreated it can progress through three distinct stages, each worse than the last. Once progression reaches the third and final stage, damage is irreversible and nothing can be done to cure the condition.
Early identification and immediate intervention are essential in effective treatment and cure.
Signs and Symptoms of Syphilis
Primary syphilis (three to four weeks after infection): a painless ulcer on the penis, vagina, rectal area, or mouth and enlarged lymph nodes in the area of the ulcer
Secondary syphilis (four to eight weeks after primary symptoms): low grade fever, headache, sore throat, general poor health, hair loss, skin rash on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, gray spots in the mouth, enlarged glands in the neck, armpit and groin that are painless
Tertiary syphilis (five to thirty years after infection): loss of balance, loss of bladder control, sudden severe pains, loss of sensation in the legs, paralysis, impotence, personality changes, mental illness, blindness, heart failure.
Transmission
Primarily through sexual contact
Through sexual activity (vaginal, anal or oral) and/or contact with infectious lesions
Sharing needles for the purpose of drug use or administration with an infected individual
Pregnant women may pass the infection to their newborn children during delivery
Prevention and Treatment
Abstinence or maintaining a monogamous sexual relationship are the only sure ways to prevent sexually transmitted syphilis
Men are advised to use a latex condom during sex
Uninfected persons should avoid sexual contact with persons from the high risk groups or those known to be infected
Antibiotics are used to treat syphilis
One should abstain from sexual activity until the full course of antibiotics are taken and a visit to the doctors ensures cure
Limit the sharing of personal hygiene products
Gonorrhea - An Overview
Gonorrhea is a contagious bacterial infection, most commonly acquired through sexual contact with an infected partner.
Infection most often occurs in the genitals but may spread to the throat, rectum and eyes.
This disease generally affects people between the ages of 18 to 30 and particularly those with multiple sex partners.
Early identification and immediate intervention are essential in effective treatment and cure, although reinfection is common.
Signs and Symptoms of Gonorrhea
Pain during urination
Yellowish, pus like discharge from the penis or vagina
Rarely, pain during sexual intercourse
Redness or swelling at the infection site
Abnormal vaginal bleeding or lower abdominal pain in women
Sore throat in orally contracted infection
Unusual rectal discharge or constant urge to move bowels in anal infection
Transmission
Most often contracted through sexual contact, including anal, oral and vaginal intercourse
An infected pregnant mother may transmit the disease to her baby during childbirth causing blindness
Touching the eyes with contaminated hands can result in the spread of infection to the eyes
Prevention and Treatment
Abstinence or maintaining a monogamous sexual relationship are the only sure ways to prevent sexually transmitted gonorrhea
Men are advised to use a latex condom during sex
Uninfected persons should avoid sexual contact with persons from the high risk groups or those known to be infected
Washing the genitals with soap and water before and after sexual contact decreases the risk of spread
Antibiotics are used to treat gonorrhea
One should abstain from sexual activity until the full course of antibiotics are taken and a visit to the doctors ensures cure
Genital Herpes - An Overview
Genital herpes is a viral infection characterized by outbreaks of painful sores on the genitals.
Most often it is spread through sexual contact.
Once infected, a person carries the virus for life; there is no cure.
Symptoms are not always present.
The initial infection lasts from one to three weeks, after which the infection may go into remission for months or years.
Signs and Symptoms of Genital Herpes
Pain or itching in the genital area
Watery blisters in the genital area that break to form painful, shallow ulcers for which scab over and disappear within three weeks
Blisters and ulcers around the mouth that may accompany genital sores
Painful urination in women
Fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, and enlarged lymph nodes in the groin
Headache
Transmission
Most often it is spread through sexual contact
It is more easily transmitted from men to women
It may be transferred to babies of infected mothers during childbirth, possibly causing blindness, retardation, or even death.
Herpes is highly contagious and one partner may transmit it to another even when no visible sores are present.
Prevention and Treatment
Abstinence or maintaining a monogamous sexual relationship are the only sure ways to prevent sexually transmitted genital herpes
Men are advised to use a latex condom during sex to decrease risk although condoms rarely cover all of the affected area
Uninfected persons should avoid sexual contact with persons from the high risk groups or those known to be infected
Antiviral medications are used to treat herpes but there is no cure
Chlamydia - An Overview
Chlamydia is any of a group of highly contagious microorganisms that can infect various sites in the body, including the genitals, eyes, lymph nodes, and respiratory tract.
It most commonly appears as a sexually transmitted genital infection.
Diagnosis may be difficult, since the infection may cause no symptoms, especially in women.
Untreated chlamydia may also cause sterility
Signs and Symptoms of Chlamydia
Painful or burning urination
Redness and itching in and around the genitals
Watery mucus discharge from the penis or vagina
A painless pimple or blister on the penis or outer lips of the vagina
Painful swelling of the scrotum
Inflamed, painful lymph nodes in the groin area
Inflammation of the inner lining of the eyelids and the membrane covering the whites of the eyes, leading to blindness if untreated
Difficulty breathing in newborns
High fever
Symptoms ranging from mild flu-like to severe respiratory distress
Transmission
Transmitted by vaginal or anal intercourse and by oral-genital contact
Infections in pregnant women may cause eye and respiratory infections in newborns
Contaminated hands that make contact with the eyes may spread the infection to that area
Prevention and Treatment
Avoid intimate contact with infected people until the infection is cured
Abstinence or maintaining a monogamous sexual relationship are the only sure ways to prevent sexually transmitted chlamydia
Men are advised to use a latex condom during sex to decrease risk
Antibiotics are used to treat chlamydia
One should abstain from sexual activity until the full course of antibiotics are taken and a visit to the doctors ensures cure
FORMATIVE CHECK/PARTICIPATION
Play STD Education Jeopardy
Give each group member a slip of notebook paper and have them write down a question they have concerning an issue related to STDs.
Split the group into two even teams
Have one facilitator make factual statements that answer the questions produced by the group members
The team that identifies the answers to the majority of the questions correctly wins a prize (donated children's books or books on subjects they are interested in - prizes should support the purpose of the group)
CRITICAL POINTS
Abstinence is the only guarantee that one will not contract a sexually transmitted disease and potentially pass it on to a partner or unborn child.
Barrier forms of contraception (latex condoms used correctly) may decrease the risk of contacting a sexually transmitted disease.
High-risk behaviors increase a person's chance of contracting a sexually transmitted disease.
CLOSURE
Closure should include a short question session followed by a brief uplifting statement or quote.