Like this edition’s Farmer story from Mali, our Script of the Week focuses on STIs.
STIs are important for broadcasters who are interested in health topics for a variety of reasons, including:
- Sexually transmitted infections affect a large proportion of the population.
- Some STIs, including herpes and syphilis, can more than triple the risk of contracting HIV.
- STIs such as gonorrhea and chlamydia are major causes of pelvic inflammation and sterility.
- Most STIs can be cured when treated on time, and generally without side-effects. But delayed treatment can result in complications, including transmission to newborns, sterility, and cancer.
- Transmission of an STI from mother to child can lead to death at birth, newborn death, low birth weight, premature births, and birth defects.
- Adolescents are particularly exposed and vulnerable to HIV and other STIs, as many of them are sexually active, change partners, and have limited knowledge of STIs.
- Because of the serious impacts of STIs, it is important to provide high quality information that will encourage people to protect themselves.
This backgrounder includes the following sections:
- What are the vectors of STIs?
- What are the most common major STIs?
- Methods of transmission
- Risk factors among adolescents
- Preventive measures
- The consequences for health