Health
STD awareness still lacking
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted April 26, 2004
While many Americans believe they take the necessary precautions to protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases, many don't use protection on a regular basis and, in fact, are placing themselves and partners at risk.
The American Social Health Assn. contracted with Harris Interactive to survey 1,155 adults ages 18 to 35 between March 3 and 8 about their knowledge of STDs. The survey was funded by GlaxoSmithKline.
The survey revealed that more than half of those queried were either unsure of their vaccination status against hepatitis A and hepatitis B or know that they had not been vaccinated for the only STDs that can be prevented by vaccination.
Those surveyed also said they felt they knew more about STDs that they did about other common diseases, like heart disease, diabetes and depression. Yet many failed to recognize that hepatitis A and B can be sexually transmitted.
ASHA noted that one in every four Americans will contract an STD sometime, yet nearly seven of every 10 people surveyed said they were not concerned about contracting an STD.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/04/26/hlbf0426.htm.
