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Question:
I work in Women's Health with the County Health Department doing outreach to decrease the incidence of unintended pregnancies in the county.........What would you say is the most important thing to do to raise awareness and bring women in for check ups( STD testing, paps, etc) and birth control methods
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Answer:
by Konstance McCaffree: (06/03/2004)
Given that I am an educator, I think that educating young people about their bodies is the most important way to raise awareness. That is why it is disturbing to see the constant controversy over providing sexuality education to young people. One of the advantages of talking to both young girls and boys about their bodies is that you can teach them about HOW to get checked and why it is important. I know that everyone wants to teach teens about pregnancy, STD's and that is good. What they sometimes neglect to do is teach them the procedures of how and why to get regular health care. Many women have no idea how their bodies work, how pregnancy occurs, how to get a regular pap smear, and do a breast exam. I taught young people in school for over 30 years and some of the most helpful lessons my students told me they got was on their sexual health care. For girls we would talk about menstruation, dysmenorrhea, using pads and tampons, how to do a breast exam (and we would practice on a model), how to use a phone book to find a doctor/clinic, and what a good exam should include. We would even role play what to ask the doctor, what to say to questions asked.
For males we taught health care as well. Testicular exam (and this was difficult since they don't touch themselves unless it is presumed they are gay -according to what guys would say!) , cleaning the genitals, jock itch treatment, wearing jock straps, differences between healthy semen and that which may contain disease germs. There is so much young people need to know that they get no where. Parents and families don't help them with these things so they don't get it!Reviewed by Sexual Health Editorial Team
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