| STD
Information Center > STD
News > Slowing Down STDs
STD Information Center Menu: |
|
Curbing the Internet's
Influence of STD Problem
(onlinedatingmagazine.com -
April 25, 2004) The National Coalition of STD Directors
(NCSD) encourages the public health community to work
with Internet providers to curb the Internet's facilitation
of high risk behavior leading to the spread of sexually
transmitted diseases among men who have sex with men
(MSM).
New data indicates that the Internet is exacerbating
the spread of STDs such as syphilis among MSM. Data
also indicates, however, that the Internet is a highly
effective tool for partner notification. Studies in
Minnesota and Chicago demonstrate how public health
professionals can adapt current STD/HIV prevention
and control strategies to the Internet.
NCSD has identified strategies that STD programs and
Internet providers can use to curb the Internet's role
in STD transmission. These include:
> Support the development,
implementation, and evaluation of Internet interventions
and identify successful collaboration
with Internet business providers;
> Gather information on Internet venues used
for meeting partners in order to better focus STD
outreach
and
testing;
> Partner notification and self-disclosure via
the Internet and e-mail, including encouraging
internet sites
to prompt for disclosure of risk behavior and HIV
status as members fill out their online profiles;
> Establishing
online chat-rooms where online health counselors
can discuss STD prevention and control
with at-risk populations; and
> Post banner ads and
links to health promotion information, including
locally-based clinical STD services, on
MSM-frequented websites.
NCSD encourages public health professionals and
their partners to view Internet Service Providers
as potential
collaborators in the fight against STDs. Providers
can promote educational information on their sites
that leads to better sexual health decision-making
that will lead to a reduction in STD rates. NCSD represents the directors of public health sexually
transmitted disease prevention programs in states,
large cities/counties, and territories of the United
States, and advocates for effective policies, strategies,
and sufficient resources to fight the spread of sexually
transmitted diseases.
|
