Dive Brief:
- In response to the high number of youth contracting sexually transmitted diseases, New York has released the Youth Sexual Health Plan, a 22-page report documenting the current problem and detailing solutions to help reduce STD and teen pregnancy rates.
- According to the report, one in four youth are likely to acquire a sexually transmitted disease — a fact bolstered by the state Department of Health's finding that about 60% of high school students reported being sexually active.
- Some of the plan's suggestions include offering HIV testing to all persons 13 or older and allowing interested districts to start sex education in elementary school.
Dive Insight:
The statistics found in the Youth Sexual Health Plan are overwhelming. In 2012, 63% of STD cases were found in individuals between the ages of 15 and 24. That same year, a staggering 3,693 babies were born to New York girls 17 or younger.
But not everyone is feeling comfortable with some of the plan's suggestions. CBS New York's report reveals various New York neighborhood discrepancies when it comes to dealing with sex ed. Parents interviewed who lived in the expensive Upper Westside neighborhood found the idea of giving 13-year-olds HIV tests off-putting. As one father said, "to put HIV testing on the plate in front of them, I think, would be not only weird for them, but probably make them think about something that’s not anywhere close to their consciousness.”
On the other hand, people in the Bronx and Queens found the idea to be a smart one. “You can’t go wrong with too much education. I think ignorance is not the answer in this case,” said a woman from Queens.
