Professional paper
Confidence and prejudice – are we doing enough for women's health?
Marina Kuzman
; Hrvatski zavod za javno zdravstvo, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Abstract
Sexually transmitted infections are a global public health problem, and for effective prevention and treatment it is necessary to analyze all the cultural and contextual factors. The paper discusses the need for female population confidence in the activities and effectiveness of health care and other services that should operate in the area of reproductive health. Among primary prevention measures the paper discusses the implementation of health education as a regular curricular activity, the need for organizing youth counseling service and vaccination against human papilloma virus infection. The paper also analyzes the perception of population regarding the advantages and disadvantages of vaccination, particularly among parents of the girls and possible measures for reducing prejudice and gaining confidence. Current situation with secondary prevention measures is described, such as early diagnosis and national screening and the available data on opportunistic screening in Croatia today are demonstrated. Although health care service is based on the principles of accessibility, comprehensiveness, continuity and comprehensive approach, to improve reproductive health and more effective prevention of sexually transmitted infections it is necessary to adopt and implement primary and secondary prevention measures on a national level.
Keywords
sexually transmitted infections; adolescents; women; confidence
Hrčak ID:
63713
URI
Publication date:
30.9.2010.
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