HIV and Youth Policy
SLSP Assignment 3: Final Essay
Topic: HIV and Youth Policy
Among developed countries, the United States of America has the highest number of population who has sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Although rates of human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) diagnoses remained steady from 2006 to 2009, the amount of youth suffering from HIV infection has been increasing significantly over the same period. Approximately 69,000 youth are suffering from HIV infection in 2008 in which half of infected population are not aware of they have caught this disease (CDC 2012, 1). In respond to this situation, measures are made by government and civil society to solve spread of HIV among youth aged between 13 to 24. Sex education is one of the main methods implemented by the Centre Disease Control and Prevention, a government department. In this essay, two different approaches of sex education will be discussed, which are abstinence-only education and comprehensive sex education. Next, the differences between abstinences-only education and comprehensive sex education will be identified. Abstinences-only education can be defined as educating the society that sexual behavior shall be prohibited before marriage. Whereas for comprehensive sex education, it can be defined as educating youth to develop correct values, attitudes, insights about sexuality and make responsible decision dealing with relationship and sex by adopting use of protection and preventing use of alcohol and drugs (CDC 2011). To begin with, values, notions and vested interests reflected in youth policy would be explored. Then, theoretical relevance of this policy will be discussed. Lastly, the effectiveness of both sex education approaches will be investigated.
1
First of all, not only numerous values and ideas are reflected in both sex education approaches but also vested interests of stakeholders are reflected too. Education is the main idea and way to raise awareness of the potential
Topic: HIV and Youth Policy
Among developed countries, the United States of America has the highest number of population who has sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Although rates of human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) diagnoses remained steady from 2006 to 2009, the amount of youth suffering from HIV infection has been increasing significantly over the same period. Approximately 69,000 youth are suffering from HIV infection in 2008 in which half of infected population are not aware of they have caught this disease (CDC 2012, 1). In respond to this situation, measures are made by government and civil society to solve spread of HIV among youth aged between 13 to 24. Sex education is one of the main methods implemented by the Centre Disease Control and Prevention, a government department. In this essay, two different approaches of sex education will be discussed, which are abstinence-only education and comprehensive sex education. Next, the differences between abstinences-only education and comprehensive sex education will be identified. Abstinences-only education can be defined as educating the society that sexual behavior shall be prohibited before marriage. Whereas for comprehensive sex education, it can be defined as educating youth to develop correct values, attitudes, insights about sexuality and make responsible decision dealing with relationship and sex by adopting use of protection and preventing use of alcohol and drugs (CDC 2011). To begin with, values, notions and vested interests reflected in youth policy would be explored. Then, theoretical relevance of this policy will be discussed. Lastly, the effectiveness of both sex education approaches will be investigated.
1
First of all, not only numerous values and ideas are reflected in both sex education approaches but also vested interests of stakeholders are reflected too. Education is the main idea and way to raise awareness of the potential