What Racism Has to Do with It: Understanding and Reducing Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Youth of Color
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are high in populations of color compared to Whites. High-risk sexual behaviors are widely viewed as the key contributors to the levels of STDs, especially in adolescents and young adults. This article situates the sexual risk behaviors of Black, Indigenous, and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/6/673 |
| _version_ | 1797531340522913792 |
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| author | Marie-Claire Boutrin David R. Williams |
| author_facet | Marie-Claire Boutrin David R. Williams |
| author_sort | Marie-Claire Boutrin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are high in populations of color compared to Whites. High-risk sexual behaviors are widely viewed as the key contributors to the levels of STDs, especially in adolescents and young adults. This article situates the sexual risk behaviors of Black, Indigenous, and other young people of color within the framework of racism. It begins with an overview of racial inequities in common STDs and shows how racism gives rise to several risk factors for high-risk sexual behaviors. These risk factors for STDs identified in prior research are best understood as adaptations to the challenges and constraints faced by youth in socially disadvantaged environments. Both social adversity and the mental health problems that it triggers can lead to risky sexual behaviors. Drawing on findings from prior research with youth of color, this paper describes the needed interventions that can markedly reduce STDs and their risk factors. It also describes needed research on interventions that could contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the adverse conditions fueled by racism that affect youth of color, their health, and their communities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:42:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d461f97776e24b65b0b023d18ec3f402 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:42:23Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-d461f97776e24b65b0b023d18ec3f4022023-11-21T22:51:06ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322021-06-019667310.3390/healthcare9060673What Racism Has to Do with It: Understanding and Reducing Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Youth of ColorMarie-Claire Boutrin0David R. Williams1Department of Biological Sciences, Oakwood University, Huntsville, AL 35896, USADepartment of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USASexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are high in populations of color compared to Whites. High-risk sexual behaviors are widely viewed as the key contributors to the levels of STDs, especially in adolescents and young adults. This article situates the sexual risk behaviors of Black, Indigenous, and other young people of color within the framework of racism. It begins with an overview of racial inequities in common STDs and shows how racism gives rise to several risk factors for high-risk sexual behaviors. These risk factors for STDs identified in prior research are best understood as adaptations to the challenges and constraints faced by youth in socially disadvantaged environments. Both social adversity and the mental health problems that it triggers can lead to risky sexual behaviors. Drawing on findings from prior research with youth of color, this paper describes the needed interventions that can markedly reduce STDs and their risk factors. It also describes needed research on interventions that could contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the adverse conditions fueled by racism that affect youth of color, their health, and their communities.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/6/673STDsBlack youthyouth of colorracismyouth development |
| spellingShingle | Marie-Claire Boutrin David R. Williams What Racism Has to Do with It: Understanding and Reducing Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Youth of Color Healthcare STDs Black youth youth of color racism youth development |
| title | What Racism Has to Do with It: Understanding and Reducing Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Youth of Color |
| title_full | What Racism Has to Do with It: Understanding and Reducing Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Youth of Color |
| title_fullStr | What Racism Has to Do with It: Understanding and Reducing Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Youth of Color |
| title_full_unstemmed | What Racism Has to Do with It: Understanding and Reducing Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Youth of Color |
| title_short | What Racism Has to Do with It: Understanding and Reducing Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Youth of Color |
| title_sort | what racism has to do with it understanding and reducing sexually transmitted diseases in youth of color |
| topic | STDs Black youth youth of color racism youth development |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/6/673 |
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