A positive way for the city to combat its high STD rates is to educate students in the classroom. While there are limited sexual education programs in place in the Oklahoma City schools, its abstinence based curriculum is not enough to warn students and parents about the dangers of STDs.

Recent data shows that teens in the city’s public schools are generally more sexually active than students the same age in other cities. The same data also shows that Oklahoma City students are less likely to use a condom, but girls do seem to use birth control more often than their peers in other states.

While this does help to keep the number of teen pregnancies below national averages, it doesn’t affect the STD rates.

Without comprehensive sexual education programs in place in the classrooms, many residents do not realize that some STDs can be transmitted without engaging in intercourse. Regular Herpes testing in Oklahoma City can help stop this common high school disease, and even prevent embarrassing flare ups from occurring.

Regular HIV testing in Oklahoma City is also vital.

Many of Oklahoma City’s teens are becoming sexually active at a younger age, and one average most have had more than one partner before their high school graduation. Sexually active students often do not realize that they are at risk or that they could be potentially spreading the diseases to their friends and classmates.

The city also has several low income neighborhoods and too few community health centers. The lack of available care often prevents citizens from getting the help that they need, and many low income families simply cannot afford the price of regular STD testing.

There is also a deep mistrust of city leaders and health officials and convincing some residents that regular STD testing is necessary is difficult. Many native Americans in the city prefer to be treated by natural methods, which do not include regular testing by a licensed health care practitioner. The same mistrust is also felt among many African Americans, who can also experience feelings of shame when they realize they may have contracted a sexually transmitted disease.

Before you experience the thrills of White Water Bay or see what it was like to be a cowboy on the plains ask yourself when was the last time you were tested for venereal infections. If you aren’t sure, it is definitely time to call and schedule a lab appointment. Testing for STIs is confidential and quick.

Reference:

http://aidsvu.org/state/oklahoma/

http://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/adolescent-health-topics/reproductive-health/states/ok.html