The social stigma problem exists nearly in all parts of the world, including North America. According to Travaglini et al. (2018), stigma acts as a significant barrier to the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in North America. The most common STDs in the region are chlamydia, human papillomavirus (HPV), gonorrhea, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
For instance, Canada reported a 49.3% increase in chlamydia infection from 2005 to 2014, with the highest cases recorded among males (Logie et al., 2018). Similarly, the United States, among other North American sovereign nations and dependencies, records considerable numbers of STDs annually. Sadly, the existence of different races such as African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asians, among others, has led to misconceived notions about individuals with STIs, making it hard for them to accept their conditions. Fundamentally, the social stigma in the North American countries and dependent territories have contributed to distress among the people with STDs and increased the prevalence of preventable STDs such as HPV due to improper medications.
First, the North American countries report high numbers of STDs annually. According to Reif et al. (2019), about 19 million new cases of STIs occur yearly in the United States, costing approximately $10-17 billion dollars. Indeed, the prevalence of STDs continues to increase among young adults and adolescents in the USA. Similarly, Mexico also experiences an escalation of various STIs, including HIV/AIDs, mainly due to the augmented sex workers’ trade. A study by Patterson et al. (2019) revealed that female sex workers in 13 cities in Mexico had various STDs such as HIV, gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia, with the latter having the highest percentage of 15.3.
The findings also indicated that the prevalence rate varied across the Mexican municipalities based on the distribution of female sex workers. The situation is relatively the same in Canada and other dependent territories. These figures demonstrate the significance of the STIs problem in North America and the considerable harm social stigma could cause to the population. Consequently, there is a dire need to embrace people with STDs in the region to inspire them to access the appropriate medications to control the prevalence rate.
Some primary factors cause social stigma in the North American countries and dependent territories. For instance, a study by Darlington and Hutson (2017) conducted in the major states of the United States demonstrated that people are often judgmental about sex. Such misconceived notions lead to unnecessary condemnation of individuals diagnosed with STIs. Indeed, the results highlighted that STD stigma is the worst shame experienced by North American residents. Individuals often react negatively to news of a person diagnosed with an STI. They stereotype such an individual as slutty or dirty and someone who engages in sex unnecessarily.
Unfortunately, this perception is always hurting because many individuals get infected in different circumstances, which may be beyond their control, such as rape. As a result, people living with an STD feel insecure and fear losing their family members. Some individuals also become domestic violence victims due to daily scornful utterances from their partners relating to their conditions, thus escalating the stigmatization.
Another source of social stigma in North America is racial-oriented. For example, most people with STDs in the United States are African Americans and ethnic minorities. According to Darlington and Hutson (2017), the CDC report in 2007 indicated that 70% of gonorrhea cases in the U.S. occurred among black women and men. Similarly, most sex workers in Mexico mainly comprise females of African origin. Indeed, the racial connection of STDs has led to Haitians’ perception as the most vulnerable population for AIDs, yet the entire country accounts for only 2.5% of the infections (Logie & Daniel, 2016). This racial stereotyping has caused extreme stigmatization of people of color diagnosed with STIs.
The major races perceive the minorities as invaders who continue to hurt their economies, especially through avoidable medical costs. Some residents observe African-Americans and other minor ethnic groups as reckless people who cannot take care of themselves, thus increasing the STDs. While statistics prove that ethnic minorities have the highest number of STIs, continued stigmatization worsens the situation, mainly with those communities’ economic marginalization.
Significantly, the religious dimension has also contributed to the stigmatization of individuals diagnosed with STIs. The majority of the North American countries and dependencies are Christian territories. For example, Mexico and Honduras comprise over 80% of Catholics, while the United States includes only 28% of the population unaffiliated with any religion (Salas-Espinoza et al., 2017). This data implies that the North American residents are mainly Christians and guided by biblical principles. In this regard, the bible teaching condemns sex before marriage and perceives such actions as sins. Unfortunately, a substantial number of people diagnosed with STIs are youths.
Consequently, these individuals often experience criticisms of violating biblical ideologies; thus, STDs are perceived as punishment for their ill behaviors. Married adults also face similar accusations when they get any the STIs because they are often accused of infidelity. Therefore, the religion’s constant emphasis on sexual abstinence and perceiving people with STIs as sinners cause social stigma, increasing these diseases’ prevalence.
Sadly, social stigma in the North American continent causes various adverse effects, including distress and hopelessness, high STDs prevalence, and economic burden. First, STI-related stereotypes subject individuals to anguish and low self-esteem (Reif et al., 2019). They feel devalued or outcasts in their communities due to persistent misconceived notions about their conditions. For instance, youths often find it challenging to accept and value themselves when diagnosed with STDs. Indeed, the majority lose hope in life and indulge in drug abuse. Arguably, social stigma toward people with STIs, among other inadequacies, could be the source of negative Mexico’s image of drug smuggling and abuse.
Stigmatization of individuals with STDs also lessens residents’ motivation in the North American sovereign nations and dependencies to participate in screenings and treatments. Previous studies demonstrate that screening helps identify people with STIs, thus assisting them in receiving the appropriate medications (Logie et al., 2018). Astonishingly, the number of HPV cases continues to rise in the region, yet there exists a vaccine of the disease.
The stigmatization in the continent has discouraged the inhabitants from receiving immunization. Therefore, this trend of boycotting vaccinations and treatments will only increase the spread of STIs, thus escalating the region’s economic burden. According to Reif et al. (2019), the U.S. federal government uses between $10 and 17 billion dollars on STI medications. In this regard, without social stigma, the North American governments would save considerable amounts, which would be channeled to other fundamental dockets such as agriculture.
The North American countries and dependencies need to end the social stigma on people diagnosed with STDs. One fundamental approach to lessen stigmatization is embracing diversity and promoting respect for all individuals irrespective of their cultural backgrounds or social status (Travaglini et al., 2018). In this way, a country such as the U.S. would eliminate racial stereotypes, enhance love and discourage STIs’ deliberate spread.
Besides, religions need to be inclusive and enable other alternative methods of controlling STDs apart from sexual abstinence. While Christian doctrines remain supreme in North America, religious people need to consider the ever-changing world dynamics and the dire need to embrace isolated communities. Importantly, it is significant to dissociate STIs from sexual stereotypes and appreciate that all people are vulnerable to the diseases, and thus, unity is the primary ingredient towards wining the stigmatization challenge.
Social stigma is a rampant problem in North American sovereign countries and dependent territories. The numbers of STDs such as chlamydia and HPV continue to rise due to stigmatization, despite the latter having an approved vaccine. Unfortunately, the youths are the most vulnerable population segment, thus risking the quick spread of infections in the continent. The North American governments need to address the religious dimension, racial orientation, and misconceived judgment about sex, which act as essential causes of social stigma in the region. Undeniably, the irrational association of STDs with immorality has led to negative stereotypes of people diagnosed with the diseases. As a result, they become hopeless and stressed to the extent of perceiving themselves as outcasts in their communities.
The feeling of rejection might have been one reason for increased drug smuggling and prostitution, especially in Mexico. Equally, social stigma had discouraged residents from participating in screenings and receiving the necessary treatments to contain the STIs. Therefore, there is a dire need to embrace diversity and positively teach religious doctrines to end social stigma.
References
Darlington, C. K., & Hutson, S. P. (2017). Understanding HIV-related stigma among women in the Southern United States: A literature review. AIDS and Behavior, 21(1), 12-26. Web.
Logie, C. H., & Daniel, C. (2016). My body is mine: Qualitatively exploring agency among internally displaced women participants in a small-group intervention in Leogane, Haiti. Global Public Health, 11(1-2), 122-134. Web.
Logie, C. H., Okumu, M., Ryan, S., Yehdego, D. M., & Lee-Foon, N. (2018). Adapting and pilot testing the healthy love HIV and sexually transmitted infection prevention intervention with African, Caribbean and Black women in community-based settings in Toronto, Canada. International Journal of STD & AIDS, 29(8), 751-759. Web.
Patterson, T. L., Strathdee, S. A., Semple, S. J., Chavarin, C. V., Abramovitz, D., Gaines, T. L., Mendoza, D., Staines, H., Aarons, G. A., & Rodríguez, C. M. (2019). Prevalence of HIV/STIs and correlates with municipal characteristics among female sex workers in 13 Mexican cities. Salud Pública de México, 61, 116-124. Web.
Reif, S., Wilson, E., McAllaster, C., & Pence, B. (2019). The relationship of HIV-related stigma and health care outcomes in the US Deep South. AIDS and Behavior, 23(3), 242-250. Web.
Salas-Espinoza, K. J., Menchaca-Diaz, R., Patterson, T. L., Urada, L. A., Smith, D., Strathdee, S. A., & Pitpitan, E. V. (2017). HIV prevalence and risk behaviors in male to female (MTF) transgender persons in Tijuana, Mexico. AIDS and Behavior, 21(12), 3271-3278. Web.
Travaglini, L. E., Himelhoch, S. S., & Fang, L. J. (2018). HIV stigma and its relation to mental, physical and social health among Black women living with HIV/AIDS. AIDS and Behavior, 22(12), 3783-3794. Web.