Assignment
Healthy People 2030 goals include reducing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and their complications and improving access to quality STD care. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (n.d.) estimates that there are more than 20 million new cases of STDs in the U.S. each year. STD rates are disproportionately higher among racial/ethnic minorities, youth, and LGBTQ+ populations, which cannot be fully explained by differences in individual risk behavior. Other factors, including discrimination, environmental injustice, wealth inequality, and healthcare access barriers may contribute to these disproportionate rates.
View STD data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC,2021) by following these steps.
1. Access the CDC Atlas Plus site.
2. Select STD from the STEP 1 prompt: What data do you want to see?
3. Select Charts from the STEP 2 prompt: How do you want to see them?
4. Access STD Charts.
5. Navigate to the left-hand search box titled Select Data
a. Select STD from the indicator category.
b. Select the state in which you will practice from the geography category.
6. Examine the data presented in the charts and address the following:
a. Explain what the data indicates about infections rates based on age, race, and gender.
b. Identify evidence of disparities. Explain your rationale.
c. Discuss biases or barriers that may contribute to disparities in STD rates in your state.
d. Return to the left side of the screen and change the geography indicator category to the United States. Discuss how rates in your state compare to those of the U.S. as a nation.
e. Describe two person-centered actions the nurse practitioner can use to promote STD self-care management for marginalized clients.
f. Discuss opportunities for interprofessional collaboration to address disparities in STD rates.