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Sunday, April 21, 2019

WICOMICO COUNTY IN TOP FIVE IN STATE FOR SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS AND TEEN PREGNANCY

(Salisbury, Maryland) According to 2017 statistics from the Maryland Department of Health, Wicomico County’s rates for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is among the highest in the state for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Teen Pregnancy. Out of 25 jurisdictions (24 counties and Baltimore City), Wicomico’s rates for youth were:
  • Gonorrhea: 2nd highest rate for males and 3rd highest for females (ages 10-14 and 15-19)
  • Chlamydia: 2nd highest rate for males and 3rd highest for females (ages 10-14) 4th highest rate for males and 8th highest rate for females (ages 15-19)
  • Teen Pregnancy: 5th highest (ages 15-19)

The Wicomico County Health Department has two prevention curricula under its Personal Responsibility and Education Program (PREP) designed to bring these rates down and encourages groups that work with youth and young adults to help safeguard county youth from sexually transmitted infections.

The first is “Promoting Health Among Teens – Comprehensive” (PHAT-C). Comprised of 12 1-hour sessions, this curriculum educates males and females ages 12 – 19 about the importance of sexual abstinence for teens, and also educates them about safer sex practices should they decide to have sex. Additional education shows youth how healthy relationships, career/educational success and financial literacy can be negatively impacted by having sex as a teen. Education is done through video storytelling/discussion, role play and other interactive learning techniques.

The second curriculum is “Seventeen Days,” an interactive DVD that educates females ages 14 – 19 about safer sex through an individual viewing session on a personal DVD player. During the 1-hour session, the participant selects one of six characters to follow in a romantic relationship, learning about contraception, sexually transmitted infections, anatomy, healthy relationships and decision making. Participants are provided risk reduction strategies and asked to think about what they would do in a similar situation.

Both initiatives require parent permission for those under age 18 and both include entry and exit surveys to assess change in knowledge.

For more information about having either of these programs provided to your group, call the Wicomico County Health Department at 410-334-3480. Connect with us online atwww.wicomicohealth.org, on Facebook, Instagram (WicomicoHealth) or Twitter (@WicomicoHealth).

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

I would like to see the more detailed statistical breakdown including age, lgbtq and race/gender status.

Anonymous said...

There aren't enough counties in MD for this to be shocking

Anonymous said...

How do we trust the data from the health dept. when they can't even get the number of counties in the state correct?
There are 23 counties in Maryland, not 24. Baltimore City is a separate subdivision, making a total of 24, not 25.

Anonymous said...

You just have to be graphic and Blunt with kids. My 18 year old dating a sworn virgin saving herself got Gonorrhea. I suggested they both go to the clinic. Turns out she's a one ended virgin and had it festering in her throat. Go figure. It's not the 1950's ladies. Nothing that Penicillin won't cure but they don't even consider these things. Sure in the prime of their sexual exploration no one want's to bother with condoms and to be blunt something as " Harmless" as oral sex....yes I said it....and we all should but the HPV virus is rampant and worse things. CONDOMS people put a years supply in every teenagers Christmas Stocking and Pray they use them and perhaps too you won't have to worry about abortion or raising unwanted grandchildren.

Anonymous said...

There are 24 counties in the state of Maryland:

Allegany
Anne Arundel
Baltimore
Baltimore City
Calvert
Caroline
Carroll
Cecil
Charles
Dorchester
Frederick
Garrett
Harford
Howard
Kent
Montgomery
Prince George's
Queen Anne's
St. Mary's
Somerset
Talbot
Washington
Wicomico
Worcester

Anonymous said...

10-14 years old? Isn't that rape?

So we have the 2nd highest rape incidences in Maryland?

SHORTY said...

Most in Wicomico County are on Welfare too

Anonymous said...

Northwest Woodsman: I’m guessing that is the demographic distribution that is causing the county to be so high on the list.

Anonymous said...

7 out of 10 of local 12 year old's have had sex. Chicken, milk, and other Hormones are causing this rapid growth into adulthood.

Anonymous said...

Most babies equals more taxpayer assistance.

Anonymous said...

Ewwww and very very sad!

AdamMorris said...

I think most of the employees at the HealthApartment have gonorrhea in their brain

Anonymous said...

Yesterday we had rabid animals, today rabid people. Hey Jakie, you really liking be Mayor now?

Anonymous said...

Yay for a benefit to being a literal (for real) 40 year old Virgin. For a while I wasn't seeing one.

Anonymous said...

something to be proud of, eh Mayor?

Anonymous said...

Not surprising since there are so many people around here that do not have any sexual inhibitions. As a matter of fact I have head some of them as young as 7 talking about how they were going to get some p----. Most of them have had sex by the time they are a teenager. You know who.

Anonymous said...

Why is everyone dancing around that HUGE BLACK ELEPHANT in the room. Baltimore was the syphilis capital of the world at one point. The Democrats refuse to address the problems regarding their constituents. I guess I am being to judgmental when I say it is offensive to me when young Black girls have five children by age twenty and by different thugs and not anyone in this equation has a job. Enough is enough.