Date of Conferral

8-31-2026

Date of Award

August 2026

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Marilyn Losty

Abstract

Background STIs or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are consequential public health emergencies that affect millions of people globally and have long-term health implications (Garcia et al., 2024). STIs are infections that are passed from one person to another through sexual contact with the most common types of STIs include chlamydia, trichomoniasis, general herpes, and human papillomavirus (HPV). It is estimated that each year, more than 20% of the U.S. population has had an STI, with around 26.2 million cases per year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2024a). The common types of STIs include chlamydia, trichomoniasis, general herpes, and HPV with young adults, aged 15 to 24, being most vulnerable to STI infections given their higher probability of engaging in high-risk behaviors, such as participating in multiple sex partners and having sex without protection (CDC, 2024a). Further, STIs cost the U.S. healthcare system nearly 18 billion in direct medical costs alone (CDC, 2024b). Thus, STIs are cause for concern among most primary health providers as left untreated, STIs can cause multiple severe medical problems, including cancer, infertility, adverse pregnancy outcomes, chronic pain, and, in some cases, death (CDC, 2024a).

Included in

Nursing Commons

Share

 
COinS