April 28, 2008

STIs Rise Among Mississippi Teens

Mississippi health officials report that a growing number of teens under the age of 18 are becoming infected with HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, according to The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, MS) (clarionledger.com, 4/28).

The state’s health department is now working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to offer teenagers public health screenings for HIV, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea; treatment of bacterial STDs; and referrals to local AIDS service organizations for those who test positive.

According to The Clarion-Ledger, Mississippi’s prevention initiatives have helped lower the state’s overall HIV infection rate over the past decade.

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Billy, Washington, DC, 2008-04-30 15:24:35
I moved away from Mississippi, because I couldn't be happy and openly Gay there. What a close-minded state. No wonder they end up being last in nearly everything imaginable. I can't imagine anybody who is Gay choosing to live there. It is a shame that Gay youth in Mississippi are stuck -- and they are AFRAID to get an HIV test and get treatment. The rejection and stigma Gay youth receive is an embarrassment to the state.

mcinjxnms, Jackson, MS, 2008-04-29 14:01:51
Problems in MS begin with family values, societal beliefs, and religious hell, fire, and brimstone. "Gay" is an ostracized death sentence. Support systems fail, forcing teens and young adults 'in the closet'. Their surroundings dictate self-worth and value as an individual, usually resulting in self-destructive behavior. To reach any targeted group, the MS State Board of Health, can not embarrassingly fail as in recent years. Hopefully, the CDC can help to address the sum of these issues.