What is public health? Wanna find out? Students in the USF Intro to Public Health class have chosen strategic areas in the Tampa Bay community that they feel represent public health in action. This blog is dedicated to explaining, understanding, and discussing what their interpretations of exactly what the heck is.... public health?!



Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Always be Packing Protection

This picture was taken at a local Walgreen's pharmacy very near the USF Tampa campus. As you may or may not be able to see from the members holding merchandise, we chose to select sexual health as our "This is Public Health" topic. As college students and adults, it is our responsibility to protect our own health and our moral obligation to protect the health of our sexual partners.

According to a study published in 2005 in the Journal of Sexual Research, approximately 90% of first-year undergraduates were sexually active at least once in the 12 months prior to the study.(LaBrie et al, 2005) While this percentage seems high, it will vary from region to region and it is no secret that college students have sex. But why do we have to wear condoms? Let us answer that question with more questions. Did you know that TODAY, May 31, 2011, marks the 30th anniversary of the discovery of AIDS? Did you know that there's still no cure for HIV/AIDS? That's why you need to wear a condom.

Condoms are public health and are life-saving devices if used correctly. They are a perfect example of secondary prevention and must be used as intended to prevent disease, not just by drug mules crossing from Mexico. (Pictured left to right: Adam, Danielle, Jamey, Bryan, Nardo)
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2 comments:

  1. UnknownJune 8, 2011 at 8:02 AM

    I think that this is a great example of public health. Pregnancy, HIV, AIDS, STD, are all consequences of unprotected sex. I love the fact that you mention that as college student and adults it not only our responsibility to protect our own health but the health of our partners. I wish that most people had that mind set I feel like if they did it would help a great deal. One of the biggest arguments that people use in the reason why they don't use condom is because it feels so much better without one. Well I always say is a few minutes of pleasure without a condom worth risking carrying a disease for a lifetime I personally don't think so. I think you guys this a great job on yalls blog and I love the group picture look like y'all had lot of fun.


    Tamarah Louis-Jean

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  2. PaulaJune 8, 2011 at 6:25 PM

    Great job on your blog! I definitely agree that this is a public health issue. If only people would realize the amount of prevention they are doing while just simply wearing a condom. It is amazing that AIDS was discovered 30 years ago and there is still no known cure. I have heard amongst some peers of mine that there has been a cure discovered but they won't release it unless you have plenty of money or if you're famous. Some say they have to keep it around to keep population under control. I am not sure about the truth behind this but it is an interesting concept. Nice group picture!

    Paula Saunders

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