Expert Cautions Youth Against Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Amidst the Christmas and New Year Celebrations, a specialist in Health Education, Dr Doris Nria, has called on youths, particularly women of reproductive age, to be cautions.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Tide, Dr Nria noted that such celebrations as witnessed during the Yuletide often leaves the youths vulnerable to Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STI) and unexpected pregnancy.
The christimas and New Year celebration activities usually put the youth in celebration mood. Sometimes at such period they easily indulge in unexpected sexual intercourse.
“When this occurs, it sometimes leads to infection and pregnancies implanned for”, she said.
Nria, who is the coordinator, Rivers State Social and Behavioural Change Commission committee on Family Planning (FP), explained that it is common for the youths, especially women of reproductive age, to be infected with STIs, including HIV during this period.
If not well treated, she explained further, it could lead to health complications which may result in delayed pregnancy.
“The situation could also result in unwanted pregnancy Sometimes in the course of hiding it, an affected girl or woman could resort to carrying out unsafe abortion, thereby resulting in health complications, sometimes leading to untimely death,” she said. Dr Nria therefore advised the youth to be cautioss not to fall into the temptation of succumbing to the temptation of being carried away with the celebration of the season. “If they must indulge in unplanned sexual activities within this period, they should ensure to use notably condom”, she concluded.

Sogbeba Dokubo