STDs are a major public health issue within the U.S.

because while they are preventable,

there are reports of 20 million new cases of STD infections year after year, with a majority of the

cases affecting young adults (Healthy People 2020 (HP2020), n.d.). This causes the U.S. to

spend $16 billion annually in health care costs (HP2020, n.d.). If contracted, the health effects of

the issue can range from short term effects like abdominal pain, or pain in urination to long term

effects such as reproductive complications, cancer, or even death (Mayo Clinic, 2017). This issue

connects to the goal of Healthy People 2020 because the goal of Healthy People 2020 regarding

STDs is to “promote healthy sexual behaviors, strengthen community capacity, and increase

access to quality services to prevent STDs” (HP2020, n.d.).

The specific age group that will be targeted are transgender individuals. This particular

demographic is at a higher risk for sexually transmitted infections than any other group. Within

the transgender population, 18-24 year olds have higher risks for infection. There are multiple

factors that contribute to high rates of HIV contraction within this population, one reason is the

lack of health coverage and the barriers to accessing sexual health services.

There are a number of interventions that are currently being used to deal with the barriers

to HIV testing. ​The HIV/STD mobile vehicle ran by the Department of Health Services - Los

Angeles County, directly address both cost and transportation barriers (Health Fair Resource

Guide, 2008). This intervention brings the health service to the people, and is also free of charge-

eliminating prohibitive costs. A program involved in addressing STD response since 1986 is

AVERT (HIV Prevention Programmes Overview, 2017). AVERT targets to increase HIV and

STD literacy which proves a barrier to STD testing by offering a behavioral intervention that
includes sex education (HIV Prevention Programmes Overview, 2017). Tackling barriers that

include- cost, transportation, culture, and literacy are critical in increasing STD testing.

The Long Beach Health Department offers a sexual health (STD) clinic that is located at

2525 Grand Ave, Long Beach, CA 90815. They can be contacted at (562)570-4315. Their

website is http://www.longbeach.gov/health/services/clinics/std-clinic/. No email address is

available at this time (Long Beach, n.d.). The Center is a health agency that promotes sexual

health and STI screenings amongst LGBTQ individuals. The Center offers free HIV screening as

well as free treatment for most HIVs. They are located at 2017 East 4th Street, Long Beach, CA

90814. They can be contacted at (562)434-4455 and info@centerlb.org. Their website is

https://www.centerlb.org/test/ (Center LB, n.d.). Planned Parenthood is another agency that is

known for their free STI testing as well as a variety of other services. The Long Beach branch is

located at 2690 Pacific Ave. Ste. 370, Long Beach, CA, 90806. The number is (800)576-5544.

Their website is

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center/california/long-beach/90806/long-beach-healt

h-center-3945-90070/std-testing-treatment. No email address is available at this time (Planned

Parenthood, 2017).
 References

Health & Human services. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.longbeach.gov/health/services/clinics/std-clinic/

Health fair resource guide. (2008). Retrieved from

http://cretscmhd.psych.ucla.edu/healthfair/HF%20Mainpage/HFmainpage.htm

Healthy People 2020. (n.d.). Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Retrieved from

https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/sexually-transmitted-diseases

HIV prevention programmes overview. (2017). Retrieved from

https://www.avert.org/professionals/hiv-programming/prevention/overview

HIV & STI Testing .The LGBTQ Center Long Beach. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.centerlb.org/test/

Mayo Clinic. (2017, August 18). Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Retrieved from
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sexually-transmitted-diseases-stds/symptoms-cau
ses/dxc-20180596

Rompe el silencio - break the silence. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://web.csulb.edu/HealthEquity/cher-projects/rompe-el-silencio

STD Testing, Treatment & Vaccines in Long Beach, CA. (2017). Retrieved from
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center/california/long-beach/90806/long-beach-healt
h-center-3945-90070/std-testing-treatment