Running Head: PHILOSOPHY

Xilonem Montoya
December 6, 2015
HSCI 301
Otiniano Verissimo

PHILOSOPHY

Statement
My philosophy of health is taking preventable measures to prevent and educate a
community/individuals on STDs and HIV/AIDS using the behavioral and social change
philosophy as well as the cognitive based philosophy. To reduce the risk of HIV/AIDS a
change in personal behaviors requires individual responsibilities. The focus on the
problem is a community not being educated enough at a young age to make a
behavioral change on the way one can prevent the transmission of STDs and HIV.
Principles
The first point to the philosophy is to provide education to inform youth the
importance of protected sex. Knowledge is essential when you are trying to change the
way an individual takes action toward a given situation. In order to direct a person
towards a positive behavioral change, the appropriate knowledge must initially be
provided. AIDS.gov states that 1 in 8 living with HIV are unaware of their infection and
that 1 and 4 new HIV infections is youth ages 13-24. CDC.gov also states 15-24 year
olds account for half of all new STD infections. The issue with this is that most of the
teens and young adults that are infected are not getting treated, and can unknowingly
pass STDs or HIV to other individuals. By providing individuals with important
information that can potentially affect their life, a better understanding of the
consequences can be analyzed, resulting in a change in behavior.
A second principle incorporating the philosophy of changed behavior is promoting
education on the way STDs and HIV can be passed and the treatments available for
them. For example educating youth and changing their perception toward STDs and
HIV can heavily influence decisions made in their future. Informing youth on the

PHILOSOPHY

importance of using condoms when involved in sexual intercourse can help reduce the
chance of becoming infected with an STD or HIV. It is also important to inform youth or
young adults of the different ways one can be infected with STDs whether viral or
bacterial.
The third philosophy is to establish policies within a community to make
Health/Sex ED a mandatory course in schools. Children at a young age should be
informed of the consequences that can occur when having intercourse, or sharing
needles ex; getting a tattoo at friends garage is another common way people become
infected with HIV. It is important that at a young age individuals understand what STDs
are and the long term effects some can have when not treated. Another key factor is to
inform individuals that some groups in the United States are more likely than others to
contract HIV due of various factors including; sex partners, lifestyle, and even where
they live. (CDC.gov)
A forth philosophy is to create a safe environment for individuals to talk and ask
questions if one has become infected. It is important for a person to feel comfortable to
talk about their medical issues to the public without feeling ashamed. Another key issue
when promoting a safe environment is to change a community/individual attitude toward
an individual who becomes infected with an STD or HIV. As stated before the ages 1524 are responsible for more than half of all STD and HIV infections, which is the reason
promoting a safe environment for teens to converse with adults (teacher, nurses, social
workersetc.) can help reduce the spread of infection, and further promote enhanced
knowledge as a community.

PHILOSOPHY

Effective programs that have helped reduce the spread of STDs and HIV
infections in adolescents are the American Psychological Association (APA). American
Psychological Association (APA) Safe and Supportive School Project is associates with
CDC Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) has developed evidencesupported resources on safe and supportive schools for school counselors, nurses,
social workers, nurses and other personnel who can implement interventions to improve
school environments. (APA.org) The main purpose for CDC/DASH is to prevent health
risk while promoting healthy outcomes for all youth in schools.
Application and Contribution
By incorporating the Health Belief Model Philosophy in efforts to reduce the
number of incidence of STD/HIV transmission, individuals could then make more
informed decisions and avoid infection. In order to reduce the number of cases of
STD/HIV infections, a combination of different philosophies must be implemented.
Education plays a major role in the way individuals behave. 1 in 2 will contract an STD
by the age of 25. (LAPublicHealth.org) Enhancing ones knowledge with straight
forward and powerful information, such as the previous statement, it is more likely an
individual will think twice on decisions that could potentially affect their health.
Knowledge can strongly affect a persons behavior and is a tool that can be used to take
preventative measures. Prevention is the most effective way to solve a problem.
Incorporating safe sex as a lifestyle, can greatly reduce the chances of becoming
infected. Being informed of the predisposing factors that cause a disease can redirect a
persons behavior out of fear of contracting one.

PHILOSOPHY

As implemented by similar programs Behavioral interventions can also benefit

psychosocial behaviors of the public (especially adolescents and young adults) when
they become more knowledgeable and are able to recognize signs and symptoms of
STDs. According to CDC Program Operation Guideline for STD Preventions, community
focused interventions can help change and modify social norms to influence social
networking, resourcing opportunities, as well as barriers to prevent risky practice in the
community. Community based interventions address behavioral risk of individuals and
empower a group through community based approaches to change social norms of
individuals. Primary prevention such as programs that aim to prevent pregnancies,
STDs and HIV promote the increase in condoms use. Secondary preventions are
programs that aim to increase early detections of STDs to reduce the spread, the Health
Belief Model to promote abstinence is possible but is not as effective.
Conclusion
A philosophy compromising of Behavior Change/Modification strategies and
Social Change philosophy can benefit communities throughout the nation in reducing
the high incidences of STD and HIV infections. Providing essential knowledge and
establishing environmental policies can aid in a change of behavior.
Individuals/communities are unaware of the risk and transmissions of STDs and HIV
infections can have on their health. In order to assume individual responsibility, one
must be provided with knowledge and become educated on the predisposing factors
that negatively contribute to their lifestyle. By providing information and educating a
individual/community it can help reduce the rate of uninformed decisions that contribute
to the cycle of transmission.

PHILOSOPHY

Reference
Hollinger, B. (n.d.). Applying Behavioral Change Theory to STD Prevention and
Education. Retrieved December 7, 2015, from
http://www.lapublichealth.org/hea/HEN_Meeting_Archives/2007/3_07/Network 3.6.pdf
Theories & Approaches. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2015, from
http://recapp.etr.org/recapp/index.cfm?fuseaction=pages.TheoriesDetail&PageID=345
About Safe and Supportive Schools. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2015, from
http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/programs/safe-supportive/about.aspx