ARTICLE REVIEW 1

ARTICLE REVIEW 1: HEALTH PROMOTION AND SEXUAL HEALTH Darrian Lynch Liberty University Abstract: Health Professionals, as well as other Social Work/Care Administrators that work amongst the sexual health spectrum play a very vital role within engagement of health promotion. This article will explain the need and importance for effective promotional strategies that will aim to prevent consequences of disease, pregnancy, or death from engagement of sexual health behavior. Although promotion is vital, the overall aim is to acknowledge that the key aim is to help patients and clients achieve overall good health and well-being. Other defining factors will include disparities, drugs/alcohol, nutrition, interventions, access to care, and self-care. Keywords: HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), STD’s (Sexually Transmitted Diseases), WHO (World Health Organization), Health Protection Agency (HPA), Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI), Office of National Statistics (ONS) Introduction This chapter article is attempting to analyze and clarify why interventions are needed in order to improve overall health and well-being of clients, as well as helping them access sexual health services. While attempting to prove the importance of sexual health promotion due to consequences of diseases and pregnancy, the need for access to health will be stressed by variations of relating factors, including but not limited to: health disparities, poverty, communities, drugs/alcohol, nutrition, and lack of self-care. This article outlines and clarifies the definition of “Health” by WHO (World Health Organization), as it relates to explaining the social, physical, and psychological dimensions included. It also defines the definition of “Sexual Health” by WHO, as it relates to sexual rights, sexually transmitted infections, teenage pregnancy, and the work of health professionals. Questions that are posed amongst the article includes: does defining sexual health and health definitions limit the scope of aspects amongst sexual health care, what is the government responding to and how, is there a sexual health crisis amongst the nation, what the true aim of health promotion is used for (informed or compliance), and do clients have the proper skills and abilities to enact to choices made? Methodology This article uses data from World Health Organization (WHO) in order to define sexual health and overall health to clarify how clients and patients or health care professionals may view the difference in terms or if they distinguish a separation between the two terms. It compares the definitions to those of Department of Health (DH). It also relays information about a study conducted by the World Health Organization in regard to cases of STI’s, in comparison to those on a national level in the United Kingdom. The article also relays information from Health Protection Agency (HPA) and the Office of National Statistics (ONS) to give accurate depiction of status of STI’s and teenage pregnancy within the United Kingdom. The information of data and statistics were configured amongst 33 million new cases. This data and statistics obtained and released will be used to measure social and environmental measures and other factors related to sexual health and overall importance of health and care. Results Based upon the 33 million cases of curable STI’s, it was found that the cases were also preventable, and complications were ranked among the top 10 causes of healthy days lost by adults in the developing world (WHO, 1995). The Department of Health reported that the consequences of poor sexual health included: pelvic inflammatory disease, HIV, cervical/genital cancers, hepatitis, chronic liver disease and liver cancer, recurrent genital herpes, bacterial vaginosis, premature delivery, unintended pregnancy and abortion, psychological consequences of sexual coercion and abuse, and poor educational, social, and economic opportunities for teenage mothers. With epidemic of sexually transmitted infections in England and Wales, the rise of unintended pregnancy for teenage girls was also occurring, with impact being connected to physical, psychological, and social determinants. It was found that 8,000 conceptions among girls were under age 16, 400 were under age 14, in which under half led to maternities, and almost 9 in 10 live births to women aged under 20 occurred outside marriage. While birth rates have fallen rapidly in Western Europe since 1970’s, the U.K. rates have remained stagnant or above since the 1980’s. It was reported in 2001 that the U.K. had highest rate of live births to teenage girls in the European Union (Social Trends 33, 2003). Conclusions and Recommendations Based upon the data and research, it is important that health professionals explore lifestyle behaviors when conducting health-promotion work that clients are influenced by in order to understand their clients and choices made. It is very important that professionals in the sexual health field have great understanding of sexual health and to not be judgmental when working directly with clients and patients, this includes advice, recognizing behaviors, understanding infections and how they interfere with sexual functions, and accepting psychological factors that impair and inhibit sexual functioning and relationships. In order to be effective in health promotion, promoters need to have accurate knowledge, self-awareness as a sexual being, and ability to communicate with clients on a genuine and therapeutic level. Instead of relying solemnly on medical models, including health screenings and treatment of diseases, more approaches should be implemented to address behavior and lifestyle issues. Professionals may need to offer more of their time to implement counseling modeling to help focus on the individual’s needs, which in turn may directly affect factors influencing behaviors. Other important factors include peer norms, community empowerment in prevention efforts, campaigning for better education, and providing access to information and services needed by clients, patients, and students. Alternative approaches include training in sexual skills and assertiveness to hopefully bring effective change. Discussion It is very important that sexual relationships become a discussion amongst health professionals when conducting health screenings. I have observed many health professionals who ask standard questions and administer screenings without conducting thorough research or information about the client/patient that they are working with. Clients should be comfortable enough to trust and share this information with professionals so that they can successfully offer vital information and services, based upon the information given. Professionals should implement more preventative methods to help their clients effectively make changes and make better decisions regarding their sexual health and overall state of health. Being that there are many health disparities and factors (environmental, financial, etc.) that affect health amongst clients and communities, we must convey sexual health messages individually to clients as opposed to each specific group, as each individual has different attitudes about their own sexual health and influenced by individual needs. It is crucial that professionals develop a clear understanding about their roles and responsibilities and must possess relevant skills to conduct this type of work. This article included great research that helps aid in proving the importance of sexual health and promotion. It also offered vital information on approaches that could be utilized to help improve prevention and decrease risks of acquiring diseases and becoming pregnancy. This article had great correlation with Healthy People 2020, which describes “health equity” as the attainment of highest level of health for all people. In terms of health disparities and determinants of health, it is important to note that overall state of health depends on social, economic, and environmental advantages/disadvantages, as well as other influences such as biology, genetics, socioeconomic status, physical environment, race, education, policies, gender, age, orientation, and location. References Price D. 9: Health promotion and sexual health. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Inc; 2007:19-XII. http://ncat.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.ncat.idm.oclc.org/docview/189244227?accountid=12711. Healthypeople.gov. (2019). Disparities | Healthy People 2020. [online] Available at: https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/about/foundation-health-measures/Disparities [Accessed 3 Nov. 2019]. WHO (1995) Sexually Transmitted Diseases: Three Hundred and Thirty-Three Million New Curable Cases in 1995. Press release WHO/64.WHO, Geneva Social Trends 33 (2003) Office of National Statistics, London