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Health Disparities and STDs |
Health Disparities and STDs
An increasing number of public health and community awareness programs are beginning to look more closely at factors that influence health disparities. These factors are multi-faceted, and range from individual behavioral determinants to social, environmental, and/or structural factors. We are learning that it is often a combination of determinants, many for which an individual may have little or no control over, that significantly affect health outcomes. Addressing health disparities by integrating effective approaches to overcome them is of paramount importance. To assist you in these efforts this month's SWAP feature provides several links to resources about or related to health disparities. These are described below:
Resources and Next Steps
Developed by the California Department of Public Health, "Health For All: California's Strategic Approach to Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities," was developed to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health. This document was adapted from the report generated by The Prevention Institute, and highlighted the following two goals:
Goal 1: Prevent the development of illness and injury by fostering healthy behaviors, healthy community environments, and institutional support of good health outcomes (not focusing only on individual health behaviors).
Goal 2: Reduce the severity of illness and injury by providing high quality medical care to all.
For more information about this effort and to access related documents, please visit the Prevention Institute website at: http://www.preventioninstitute.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=81&Itemid=180
The PBS series Unnatural Causes provides an insightful overview of the consequences of health disparities in the United States. Episodes of this series can serve as a strong catalyst for group discussion with staff and community members. For more information and facilitator materials, go to: http://www.unnaturalcauses.org/
STD specific resources include:
A wide variety of STD/HIV promotional and educational materials designed for specific audiences are available on SWAP. Click here to link to the SWAP Materials Search page.
The issue of health disparities is of importance to all communities and will take action by all disciplines to eliminate.To SWAP any related materials that you have developed complete this Submission Form and forward to Joyce Lisbin, joyce.lisbin@cdph.ca.gov.