Displaying items by tag: Sexual Risk Avoidance Education

By Lori Kuykendall, MPH, President of Beacon Health Education Resources (www.beaconhealthed.com)

Sexually transmitted infections have risen to all-time record highs across the nation. There are 26 million new infections each year, with half occurring in young people under age 25. Nearly twice as much money is spent on direct medical costs associated with STIs than on teen pregnancy. Sexually active singles are more likely to have an STI than to be pregnant.

The fastest-growing numbers of new infections are cases of congenital (newborn) syphilis, which presents serious health risks. In 2023, there were 3,882 babies born in the U.S. with congenital syphilis, and 279 of them died. While syphilis is a curable bacterial infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “condoms will not protect” against syphilis because it can spread through skin-to-skin contact. Unfortunately, this information is not widely known or understood.

We want to be prepared to promote holistic sexual wellness and flourishing with all our clients, and sharing medically accurate information and resources about STIs is an important part of serving them well. Whether your center offers STI testing or not, addressing both female and male clients about their risks and need for screening and/or treatment can be an opportunity to care for them and to continue building a supportive relationship.

The CDC is a good place to begin for current information on the most common bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections. Client advocates and medical staff should have a working knowledge of how the infections spread (modes of transmission), their short- and long-term health risks, and the varying levels of risk reduction offered by condoms. In addition to the physical risks, STIs can bring significant emotional and relational consequences as well.

Pregnancy Clients — Every pregnant client needs support in starting and following through with prenatal care that will include comprehensive STI screening (and treatment if needed). Centers may provide this themselves or work with local health care providers to ensure clients receive the necessary care. Several STIs pose serious risks to babies, passing directly during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. Ensure your client understands these risks and follows through with appropriate testing.

Negative Test Clients — For the occasional pregnancy test client whose test comes back negative, she (and her partner, if present) may feel relieved and ready to go on their way. We have the opportunity to ask about STIs and encourage testing. STIs can be a place of vulnerability that opens a “window to their heart,” enabling you to address deeper lifestyle and relationship issues. A simple question like, “Is not having sex an option for you?” can gently help them reflect on whether their current choices are truly supporting their life goals. Keep in mind that you may be the only person asking these questions and pointing them to a healthier way.

STI Testing Clients — Many centers offer basic STI screening and/or treatment. Be sure to communicate clearly with clients which STIs you screen for and which you do not. Find like-minded health care providers in the community to partner with in order to encourage more comprehensive care and follow-up. Sharing basic information about the different kinds of STIs and modes of transmission, as well as the effectiveness and limitations of condoms, can help equip clients to make better decisions.

Education Classes — For pregnant and parenting classes, look for ways to add STI information into discussions about healthy prenatal care and healthy relationships. For prevention and outreach programs, STIs are a key part of promoting sexual wellness to protect physical, mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual health. As described earlier, many people lack a basic understanding of the different types of STIs and their associated risks.

Pregnancy help centers have an incredible opportunity to share God’s beautiful design for sex and sexuality. His Word is clear that sex was intended to be shared solely within a covenant marriage. Sexually transmitted infections are evidence of this good plan—outside His design, there are physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual consequences. We can use STI education to point back to this truth. We can teach or re-teach His design in a way that is compassionate and relevant for our clients, with the ultimate goal of their safety, wholeness, and thriving within God’s good plan. Let’s take courage to share this good news!

(Beacon Health Education Resources offers online STD training and new client-facing STD brochures at www.beaconhealthed.com.)

by Lori Kuykendall, MPH, President of Beacon Health Education Services

Optimal Health was originally defined in 2009 as "a dynamic balance of physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual health." Like-minded leaders in the previous presidential administration succeeded in having The Optimal Health Model published on the government’s website, and it is used widely in the Sexual Risk Avoidance field. Optimal Health concepts help serve clients with community education and prevention programs.

The definition of "optimal health" includes key concepts for helping people achieve the best outcomes in all five dimensions: physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual. Read each of the three statements below carefully and see how applicable they are to serving clients.

1. "Health promotion is the art and science of helping people discover the synergies between their core passions and optimal health, enhancing their motivation to strive for optimal health, and supporting them in changing their lifestyle to move toward a state of optimal health."

What pregnancy help organizations (PHOs) do every day is both an “art and science” of prayerfully guiding clients toward optimal health, enhancing each person’s motivation, and providing positive support. We can help clients better understand their core needs and passions shaping their behavior (both helpful and harmful) and begin to take small steps toward choices that promote and protect their physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual health.

2. "Lifestyle change can be facilitated through a combination of learning experiences that enhance awareness, increase motivation, build skills, and most importantly, through the creation of opportunities that open access to environments that make positive health practices the easiest choice."

We have an incredible opportunity to provide personalized learning experiences that are both practical and inspirational, with the hopes of fostering a better environment for making better choices.

3. One other Optimal Health concept that gives direction and helps to set reasonable expectations for serving those coming to us in high-risk environments: Optimal Health "measures success by the degree of movement away from risk."

The target image with "high risk", "low risk" and "no risk" helps give perspective for where our clients are, and where we can hope to support them. It guides us in working together with them to set reasonable goals moving toward lower levels of risk, and ideally on to no risk. Some examples of this are questions like "Is not having sex an option for you?" or "What steps could you take to move away from this unhealthy relationship?" Depending on the client’s unique situation and your center’s services, you may be able to discuss STD testing or other services you offer. These "risk reduction" measures require wisdom and discernment but can help facilitate an ongoing relationship with the client with the continued goal of moving them to a no-risk environment.

Concerning community education and prevention programs, the Optimal Health Model allows an emphasis on “primary prevention” in sexual health education. We want to help those at no risk (as are most young people who haven’t been involved with sexual activity yet) to have the awareness and motivation that this is the best choice for their whole-person well-being. We give clear, positive messages that normalize avoiding sexual risk by avoiding sexual activity. Students who are engaged in at-risk behaviors are encouraged that a no-risk status is an achievable option that brings both short and long-term flourishment. The Optimal Health Model emphasizes all aspects of nonmarital sexual activity and its associated physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and intellectual risks while promoting the whole-person benefits to be realized in preserving all sexual activity for marriage.

The Optimal Health model is a strong tool for use both inside and outside the pregnancy center. It is future-facing and provides guidance and hope by encouraging all toward well-being and flourishment.