In 2011 some state lawmakers introduced a bill that would expand the information currently taught in public schools to include the use of contraceptives in an effort to curb rising teen pregnancy rates and decrease the number of students and young adults who test positive for a sexually transmitted disease each year.

Unfortunately this bill did not pass legislation and the current curriculum taught in the sexual education classes has not changed. Public schools are not required to teach anything other than abstinence, along with the basic facts regarding HIV/AIDS. Even though studies have proven that the best and most effective method at preventing the spread of STDs is to inform residents about the dangers they face, local officials are still extremely reluctant to veer away from the current curriculum.

It is this opposition to change and update sexual education programs in schools that is contributing to the high rate of STDs in teens and young adults, and it is also affecting older residents as well. Not all STDs are passed solely through penetration during intercourse some can be easily spread through casual contact. Without the information needed to protect themselves, school and city officials can expect to see STD rates continue to rise.

This is one of the reasons regular Herpes testing in Southeast Hidalgo is so important for students health, since the virus can be easily spread without engaging in any sexual contact. Regular HIV testing in Southeast Hidalgo is also critical for continued good health, especially since the rate of infection keeps rising each year.

Located along the U.S. and Mexican border, the small bedroom community of Southeast Hidalgo is currently dealing with a high rate of HIV/AIDs infections, along with the rest of the commonly transmitted STDs. There are several demographical factors that are affecting these rates, which include the community’s relatively remote location.

Situated along the U.S.-Mexican border the Rio Grande Valley is a nature lover’s paradise, but it’s remote location also makes it difficult for health officials to reach everyone. There are also problems with language barriers in the large Hispanic community, along with a deep mistrust of any government official.

Undocumented residents are often afraid to visit a local health clinic, even if they know that they have a STD. This also applies to the large number of migrant workers who live in the area, and often come across the border on work visas during the spring and fall planting and harvest seasons.

The state and county’s reluctance to update the information currently being taught in the public schools is making it almost impossible for teens and young adults to know how to protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases, which is also affecting the STD rate for older residents in the city. Until everyone understands how important regular STD testing is for their sexual and overall health, the number of residents infected will continue to rise each year.

Before you try one of the locally crafted beers or check out a Viper’s basketball game, it is important to take a few minutes and think about your sexual health. While there are a few community health centers located around the neighborhood, most residents prefer to avoid the long lines and crowded waiting rooms simply hoping that they do not have a STD. Now you can skip the overcrowded community facilities and schedule confidential STD testing with one simple phone call. This way you only need to spend 20 minutes or so at a local lab, and you still get the peace of mind that comes with being responsible for your sexual health.

Reference:

http://healthindicators.dshs.texas.gov/indicator?indicatorName=HIV%20Incidence

http://aidsetc.org/border/profile-texas