I am writing in response to the article, "Increasing Knowledge of Sexually Transmitted Infection Risk" by Mallard-Johnson, et al. (February 2007). I applaud the authors for this valuable research, testing the role that education plays in the perceived risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs). I found the sampling of women in a baccalaureate nursing program particularly interesting as we generally consider women who are seeking higher education a population that might be at a lower risk for contracting STIs. It was shocking to discover that 83% of these women had reported previous episodes of STIs.
In the United States, direct medical costs associated with STIs are estimated at upwards of $14.1 billion annually.1 This study suggests that simple interventions in the form of awareness and teaching can increase knowledge about the risk and transmission of STIs. It is crucial that federal, state, and local policy makers acknowledge the role that awareness and education play in reducing the risk for infection, thus helping to reduce the skyrocketing costs of care. But perhaps the greatest impact comes from within the primary care setting, where practitioners have the ability to make a difference through direct teaching efforts. Mallard-Johnson, et al.2 suggest that both practitioners and the women they serve are charged with recognizing crucial points in at-risk situations and women need to understand the serious impact that STIs can have on their health.
This study confirms that STI awareness and education remains a critical health issue that requires vigilant attention from primary care providers, especially given the Healthy People 2010 report, in which sexual behavior is 1 of the 10 leading United States health indicators.3 The report also sets goals to eliminate disparity among different segments of the population. This is especially evident among African-American women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention4, African-American women are seven times more likely to develop chlamydia, 18 times more likely to develop gonorrhea, and 24 times more likely to contract HIV than white women. This disparity likely reflects limited access to quality healthcare, poverty, and lack of educational resources.
This article should serve as a catalyst for practitioners to step up their role in STI prevention through education and awareness. As a future family nurse practitioner, studies such as this affirm my reason for seeking higher education. The statistics for STIs, especially in the minority populations, offer a challenge. In order to improve disparity and reduce the transmission of STIs, nurse practitioners must lead the way in not only providing direct patient care, but targeting populations at risk. With this as our goal, we guide and empower our patients to take a personal responsibility toward a positive and healthy outcome.
Stephanie Pfautz, RN, BSN
University of Missouri, Columbia, FNP Graduate Student
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