Prevention of HIV among Adolescent Girls and Young women between the ages of 15 to 24 years

Introduction

Health promotion is necessary for the prevention of the spread of HIV/AIDs among the young girls and young women between the ages of between 15 to 24 years. The spread of HIV/AIDs has more than doubled in the US, thus making mostly teenagers to fall victims of the disease. Most youths have ended up losing their lives due to poor health education. In addition, most youths indulge in unprotected sex, a move which makes them to end up contracting the disease or otherwise becoming pregnant. In order to deal with this issue, this paper will conduct a health education, whereby it will provide an analysis on the reasons as to why most teenagers are at high risk of contracting the disease, statistics showing the numbers of youths infected by the disease, and the ways through which the spread of HIV/AIDs among the youths can be prevented.

As of the year 2014, 22% of the youths between the ages of 15 to 24 were diagnosed with new HIV infections in the US (Health People.gov, 2014). A huge number of the new diagnoses mainly occurred on females’ bisexuals and lesbians. African Americans and Hispanic lesbians were the most affected, however, this was a significant drop in the number of new infections amongst the youths (Rhodes & Wong, 2016). The spread of the disease was majorly attributed to unprotected sex among the youths, which makes them vulnerable to the disease (Prado, Lightfoot & Brown, 2013). On the other hand, some people particularly teenage girls who were mainly affected by poverty, ended up indulging in sexual activities for money, a move which resulted into contracting HIV.   

The youths lack common knowledge on how to deal with peer pressure, and the abuse of drugs. Young teenagers in the university, tend to abuse drugs, due to peer pressure, a factor which results in the spread of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases too. This is a measure which needs to be looked at carefully, due to the huge number of youths who are being infected by the disease in each and every year (Health People.gov, 2014). In order to deal with this issue, it will be necessary to engage the youths into health conversations, whereby they will be taught on ways of either abstaining from sex, or using protection (Prado, Lightfoot & Brown, 2013).

Entertainment is one of the best means of reaching the youths, since the youths are attracted to areas where they can be entertained (Prado, Lightfoot & Brown, 2013). In order to effectively conduct a health education among the youths, it will be necessary to come up with a summer camp, whereby youths particularly youth teenagers and women will be the main audience. In the camp, there will be prominent musicians who will perform, and this is aimed at attracting a huge number of youths to the event (Health People.gov, 2014). Different talents will also be recognized, the youths will be given the chance to showcase their talents, before the audience (Rhodes & Wong, 2016). This summer camp should also be advertised on the social media and their media platforms. This will allow most teenagers be it males or females to attend.

In the three day summer camp, youths will be taught on the effects HIV, this will be a move which will be aimed at showing the youths the other side of the disease. In addition, they will also be taught how to avoid falling into sexual traps, and this may include rape or ending up indulging in sexual activities due to the abuse of drugs. Secondly, the youths will also be encouraged, to use protection during sexual intercourse, thus making sure that they prevent themselves from contracting the disease (Health People.gov, 2014). Finally, all groups and sexual communities which are: gay, lesbians, bisexuals, vulnerable teenagers and young women will also be represented, and they will be given a chance to communicate to case managers, who will advise them on how to conduct themselves (Prado, Lightfoot & Brown, 2013).

The victims of the disease will also be taken good care of, whereby they will be advised and encouraged to take medication and maintain a proper diet (Prado, Lightfoot & Brown, 2013). In so doing, the project will be a success, whereby a very huge number of youths will reached. This will therefore allow most young African American teenagers to be able to avoid contracting the disease (Health People.gov, 2014). In order to help the youths to develop lifestyle changes, the case managers will also provide multiple ways. This may include: playing video games, indulging in sporting activities and focusing on areas of concern such as education, or work (Rhodes & Wong, 2016).

Conclusion

The spread of HIV among young female teenagers and youths has been on the rise, a factor which has consequently affected their future. In order to deal with this issue, the paper has provided a project, which is aimed at creating the awareness of HIV among the youths, thus enabling them to avoid contracting the disease. In the health project, which will be a summer camp, youths will be taught on ways of avoiding to indulge in sexual affairs, and the importance of protected sex, hence allowing them to avoid contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.  

Reference

Health People.gov. (2014). Leading Health Indicators: Office of Disease Prevention  and Health Promotion.

Prado, G., Lightfoot, M., & Brown, C. H. (2013). Macro-level approaches to HIV prevention among ethnic minority youth: State of the science, opportunities, and challenges. American Psychologist, 68(4), 286-299. doi:10.1037/a0032917

Rhodes, S. D., & Wong, F. Y. (2016). HIV Prevention Among Diverse Young MSM: Research Needs, Priorities, and Opportunities. AIDS Education & Prevention, 28(3), 191-201.