Std Prevention Essays - Midwifery, RTT, Prevention Of HIVAIDS

Std Prevention Essays - Midwifery, RTT, Prevention Of HIVAIDS Std Prevention Abstinence And STD Prevention Todays world is full of worries and problems which did not affect teens a generation ago. New problems keep appearing in todays world, such as STDs, increased pregnancy rates, and other factors facing teens who choose to have sex. Emotionally and physically teens and getting less developed before having sex and are not prepared for the serious problems which come along with their decision to have sex. No longer is it a matter which will just go away if we ignore it, but teen health and the health of our society depend on choices which todays teens make regarding sex. With so many diseases and problems facing todays world, abstinence is the only way to protect ourselves. Abstinence is a safe choice in preventing the possibility of pregnancy. One-tenth of young women between the ages of 15 and 19 get pregnant every year, 83 percent of these pregnancies are unwanted or unplanned. Half of the unmarried teens who get pregnant do so within six months of their first sexual experience. In fact, between 1986 and 1990, teen childbearing increased by 16 percent. Whats worse, pregnant teenagers often dont see a doctor until the time of delivery. Another serious problem surrounding teen sexual intercourse is the probability of AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Each year, three million teens are infected with STDs. Among 14- to 20-year-olds, chlamydia is the most common. It has no obvious symptoms, and can cause infertility if left untreated. Another common disease is herpes, which causes sores and painful swelling of the genitals. Its symptoms can be managed, but not cured. Fifteen percent of all teenage girls carry the virus that causes genital warts, another common STD. Gonorrhea, not uncommon in teens, is known to cause pelvic pain, discharge, and painful urination. It may leave its victims sterile. Perhaps even more serious is the disease Syphilis, which killed famous mobster Al Capone. It causes sores, rashes, brain and organ damage, and death. It can also harm an unborn child. AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) is a growing danger, and is by far the most serious sexually transmitted disease. AIDS is the sixth leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year-olds. Cases among teens have grown 62 percent in the past two years, and the number of teens with AIDS doubles every 14 months. A fifth of all AIDS victims in this country today are in their twenties, and since the disease takes two to ten years to develop, those victims contracted it in their teenage years. Even scarier is that, according to a study of 19 universities, one in 500 college students may carry the AIDS virus. With these frightening statistics, it's easy to see why many teens are choosing not to have sex. Many bold teenagers think they can totally avoid pregnancy and STDs by using various forms of contraceptives. However, while it does lessen the chances of disease and unwanted pregnancy, birth control is not always dependable. Although sex my bring appeal to our generation, the best way to prevent teen pregnancy and STDs is by practicing abstinence. Hopefully before any more people are infected by some of these deadly diseases, kids will get the idea that being safe and practicing abstinence is the best way to go.

The Top 10 French Gestures

The Top 10 French Gestures Gestures are frequently used when speaking French. Unfortunately, many gestures are not often taught in French classes. So enjoy the following very common hand gestures. Click on the name of the gesture, and youll see a page with an image of the relevant gesture. (You may have to scroll down to find it.) Some of these gestures involve touching other people, which is not surprising since the French are touchy-feely.  According to the French publication Le Figaro Madame (May 3, 2003), a study on heterosexual couples seated at a terrace established the number of contacts at 110 per half-hour, as compared to two for Americans. French Body Language in General For a full look at the intricacies of French body language, read the classic Beaux Gestes: A Guide to French Body Talk (1977) by Laurence Wylie,  Harvards longtime  C. Douglas Dillon Professor of French Civilization.  Among his telling conclusions: The French are  more controlled  (than Americans).  Their chest remains straight, their pelvis horizontal, their shoulders do not move and their arms are close to their body....There is something stiff and tense in the French way of moving.  This is why French clothes are too narrow, too tight for Americans.  Being very controlled with their bodies, the French need verbal expression as an outlet....Americans need more space to move.Your [the French] obsession with rationality leads you to give major importance to your head. The most characteristic French gestures are associated with the head: mouth, eyes, nose, etc. Of the dozens of iconic French gestures and facial expressions, the following 10 stand out as French cultural symbols. Note that these are not drawn-out affairs; they are done fairly quickly. 1.Faire la bise Greeting or saying goodbye to friends and family with a sweet (nonromantic) exchange of kisses is perhaps the most essential French gesture. In most parts of France, two cheeks are kissed, right cheek first. But in some regions, it can be three or four. Men do not seem to do this as often as women, but for the most part, everyone does it to everyone else, children included. La bise is more an air kiss; the lips do not touch the skin, although the cheeks can touch. Interestingly, this type of kiss is common in several cultures, yet many people associate it only with the French. 2.Bof Bof, aka the Gallic shrug, is stereotypically French. It is commonly a sign of indifference or disagreement, but it could also mean: Its not my fault, I dont know, I doubt it, I dont agree, or I dont care. Raise your shoulders, hold up your arms at the elbows with your palms facing out, stick out your lower lip, raise your eyebrows and say Bof! 3.Se serrer la main You can call this shaking hands (se serrer la main, or to shake hands) or the French handshake (la poignà ¨e de main, or  the handshake). Shaking hands is, of course, common in many countries, but the French way of doing it is an interesting variation. A French handshake is a single downward motion, firm, and brief.  Male friends, business associates, and coworkers shake hands when greeting and parting. 4.Un, deux, trois The French system of counting on the fingers is a bit different.  The French  start with the thumb for #1, while English speakers start with the index finger or the little finger. Incidentally, our gesture for loser means #2 to the French. Plus, if you order one espresso in a French cafà ©, youd hold up your thumb, not your index finger, as Americans would do. 5.Faire la moue The French pout is another oh-so-classic French gesture. To show discontent, distaste or another negative emotion, pucker up and push your lips forward, then squint your eyes and look bored. Voil la moue. This gesture shows up when the French have to wait for long periods, or they dont get their way. 6.Barrons-nous The French gesture for Lets get out of here! is very common, but its also familiar, so use it with care. Its also known as On se tire. To make this gesture, hold your hands out, palms down, and smack one hand down onto the other. 7.J'ai du nez When you tap the side of your nose with your index finger, youre saying that you are clever and quick-thinking, or youve done or said something smart. Jair du nez literally means that you have a good nose for sensing something. 8.Du fric This gesture means that something is very expensive, or that you need money. People sometimes also say du fric! when they make this gesture. Note that le fric is the French colloquial equivalent of dough, cash or money. To make the gesture, hold one hand up and slide your thumb back and forth across your fingertips. Everyone will understand. 9.Avoir une verre dans le nez This is a funny way to indicate that someone has had too much to drink or that person is slightly drunk. The origin of the gesture: a glass (une verre) symbolizes alcohol; the nose (le nez) becomes red when you drink too much. To produce this gesture, make a loose fist, twist it in front of your nose, then tilt your head to the other direction while saying, Il a une verre dans le nez. 10.Mon Å“il Americans express doubt or disbelief by saying, My foot! while the French use the eye. Mon oeil!  (My eye!) can also be translated as: Yeah, right! and No way! Make the gesture: With your index finger, pull down the bottom lid of one eye and say, Mon oeil!