STI refers to Sexually Transmitted Infection, there are five the most common STDs that are found mainly in the United States include Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Syphilis, and Genital Herpes (HSV-1 and HSV-2).

According to the State Health Profile, Syphilis is the primary and secondary STI problem in South Dakota; in the state reports, reported gonorrhea cases have increased five percent over the past decade, reported chlamydia cases have increased doubly since 2003, the scariest thing is the reported syphilis cases have increased sharply in recent years. Health officials concern that if the infection rates are continuing to rise among those common diseases, the infection could be exponential from one infected patient to many others.  (Pfankuch)

Syphilis is a highly contagious disease that is commonly found among men who have sex with men or unborn children who are congenital transmission from their infected mothers. Normally Syphilis is spread through sexual activity includes oral and anal sex, and people who carry the disease do not know they are infected.

Syphilis disease is caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum, it can enter the human body through skin cuts or mucous membranes. It is considered a public health threat because it will cause long-term health problems such as arthritis, brain damage, and blindness. People who have had unprotected sex, multiple sex partners, have had HIV history and same-sex activity (man with a man) are considered to have a high risk of getting syphilis. (Ambardekar)

The health problem has been the major concern that the public is caring about. The  South Dakota Department of Health has provided professional development and technical assistance to schools through a project that is called the Good & Healthy South Dakota School.

The Department of Health collaborates with the Department of Education and State University to conduct a regional Healthy School Meals Trainings, it is mainly to help school nutrition guidelines and meet the required standards. The contents of the program include diabetes prevention and control, healthy eating habits, preventing heart disease, oral health, school health, cancer control, and tobacco control.

Last but not least, after reviewed the program contents, we found that there is no class or practice to help the public to prevent or educate the knowledge of improper sexual activities. Since the STI rates are increasing year after year, the priority of composing the health programs should have included the practices or classes to help students or their parents to understand what is the cause of improper sexual activities and how can we do to prevent it from happening.

Especially in the present day, kids can access all the information in regards to sexual activities, but they cannot identify what is right or wrong. Therefore, the suggestion to the health department is that when they collaborate with the Department of Education, they should have considered adding the classes and practices to their program in order to effectively prevent those STI happened. We believe that with proper education to students or public, people will understand what sexual disease is and how to prevent them while enjoying them without any concern.

Work Cited

Pfankuch, Bart, and South Dakota News Watch. “South Dakota Losing Fight against Resurgent Sex Diseases.” Argus Leader, Argus Leader, 11 June 2018, https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2018/06/11/stds-south-dakota-losing-fight-against-resurgent-sexually-transmitted-diseases/690050002/

Ambardekar, Nayana. “Syphilis: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment.” WebMD, WebMD, 3 Nov. 2019, https://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/syphilis#1.