Male Health : Scarlett Helps De-Stigmatize STD Testing in LA

Scarlett Johansson inadvertently created herself the unofficial STD testing Los Angeles spokesperson when she offered her opinion on how frequently people should be checked for HIV. In an interview, Scarlett spoke of how she considered it 'disgusting' and 'irresponsible' that folks neglect to get checked for STDs.

For a brief time, the actress and top-earning Hollywood star brought the media spotlight onto the social issue of normal STD testing. Los Angeles resident, Johansson told an interviewer that she gets tested for HIV every six months. Furthermore, she stated how she thinks poorly of individuals who do not attempt or care to grasp about their sexual health, saying that to urge an everyday STD test "is half of being a good human".

Obtaining tested twice a year would possibly appear exceptionally frequent to some people. Might being motivated to induce tested therefore typically indicate that the safe sex practices in Hollywood are otherwise lax or inadequate? Knowing the reputation for quick-and-loose living that Hollywood has, Scarlett was quick to point out that she is much from promiscuous, saying "[people] are mistaken for thinking I am sexually accessible in some way."

Lifestyles and speculation aside, Johansson has raised the profile and reduced the stigma of STD testing in Los Angeles and beyond. The actress's comments motivated the British press to print statistics from the National AIDS Trust, that stated that there were as many as seven thousand new cases of HIV diagnosed in the UK in 2006. "Diseases can continue to spread unless we stop stigmatizing" said a spokesperson, adding that accountable behavior is the correct use of condoms and obtaining an STD test whenever you put yourself at risk.

L.A. Charities and Projects

Back on this facet of the Atlantic, voters can currently realize free STD testing in Los Angeles County.

APLA (which stands for Aids Project Los Angeles) is a disease prevention and advocacy service whose statistics show that there are between forty two,four hundred - 46,600 individuals living with the data and burden of a positive HIV check in LA.

This alarming figure is taken from the "Program of HIV Epidemiology and STD testing" by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, a political candidate study conducted 2 years ago, in 2008. Worryingly, the identical study suggests that there is a important portion of the local population (regarding 15,000) that does not apprehend that they're carrying the virus.

Both APLA and therefore the UK's National AIDS Trust agree that the difficulty of undiagnosed carrier is partly as a result of of the shame, reluctance, apathy and stigma surrounding obtaining an STD test. In Los Angeles, APLA launched the 'What you do not know CAN kill you' in 1991 to strive to encourage testing uptake.

Yank Testing

Looking additional back, a 1985 country-wide poll placed seventy two% of Yankee in favor of obligatory STD testing, which sounds encouraging. However, the identical survey additionally advised that [*fr1] of our nation consider quarantine for HIV carriers. Still more alarming is that 15 p.c of Americans think about it a good plan to tattoo people who have the disease.

Despite the controversies and hearsay, when high-profile celebrities like Scarlett Johansson speak out on the problem, it helps the reason for activists and charities that are battling to raise awareness and stem the spread of HIV and different diseases.

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Dorish Hill has been writing articles online for nearly 2 years now. Not only does this author specialize in Diseases STDs, you can also check out her latest website about: Black Diamond Wedding Rings Which reviews and lists the best Black Wedding Rings

Source: http://www.didarticles.com/Scarlett-Helps-De-Stigmatize-STD-Testing-in-LA-184664.html

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