THE ROLE OF THE NURSE IN THE PREVENTION OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES IN ADOLESCENTS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11603/m.2414-5998.2026.2.16444Keywords:
prevention of STDs; sexual health of adolescents; educational activities; healthy lifestyle; sexually transmitted infections; preventive medicineAbstract
Today, sexually transmitted infections represent a global challenge, leading to wide-ranging medical, social, economic, and even demographic consequences.
To date, the proliferation of sexually transmitted diseases is contributing to the degradation of the reproductive health of the population, and the most vulnerable category is the younger generation, in particular the adolescents.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) statistics, approximately 400 million new cases of STIs are recorded annually worldwide. These infections predominantly affect individuals aged 15–49, a demographic category defined as reproductive age and characterized by high social activity. Data suggests that one in six people globally has a history of one or more STIs. In Ukraine, the Ministry of Health officially records nearly 400,000 cases annually. However, there is a concerning trend toward the rapid spread of STIs among young people, with this age group representing the highest incidence rates.
A special role in the prevention of adolescent sexually transmitted diseases is assigned to the nurse. Prevention involves timely education of adolescents as regards the clinical symptoms, diagnosis, and consequences of venereal diseases. Basically, it is better to prevent sexually transmitted diseases than to treat them.
I ligh of he above, our article is dedicated to organizing preventive work involving nurses among adolescents and forming their knowledge of the basics of a healthy lifestyle.
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