Rising STD Rates in Latino Adolescents and Young Adults

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are a part of a major public health in the United States overall and specifically in California. A large number of new diseases arise each year in the United States. Sexually transmitted diseases are passed beginning with one individual then onto the next through sexual interaction including vaginal, oral, and anal sex. They can also be transmitted from one individual onto the next through intimate physical contact. The health behavior focus in this literature review is to analyze the increasing sexually transmitted disease (STD) rates with lack of condom use and sexual health education in Latino adolescents and young adults in California and the United States. The medical and social outcomes of adolescent and young adult sexual activity are a national health concern. Although sexually transmitted diseases influence people, they take an especially overwhelming toll on adolescents and young adults. Adolescents and young adults aged 10 to 24 years of age, make up one-fourth of the population and represent half of the 20 million new sexually transmitted diseases in the United States every year. Are the rates of condom use, sexual health education, and STD testing (chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis) increasing STD rates among Latinos adolescents and young adults?