A wellness peer educator uses a pipette Monday to transfer a students urine into a test tube during STD testing at the Recreation Center. The sample will be tested at the state public health lab on campus for gonorrhea and chlamydia. The results usually take one to two days, said Angie Bailey, director of health education at the Jackson County Health Department. The program, called ÒGet Yourself Tested,Ó is a part of a larger public information campaign known as ÒItÕs Your (Sex) Life.Ó The campaign is a partnership between MTV and the Kaiser Family Foundation, which work in conjunction with other organizations such as the Jackson County Health Department, SIU Sports and Recreational Services, and the SIU Health Center. Ð Brooke Grace | Daily Egyptian

One out of every two people under the age of 25 will have at least one sexually transmitted disease in their lifetime, says Christy Hamilton, coordinator at the Student Health Center.

Advertisement

Jodi Robertson, Administrative nurse at the Student Health Center,  said the Student Health Center has conducted 1,472 STD screenings since Aug. 1.

279 came back positive, she said.

“Chlamydia is the most common disease we see on campus,” Robertson said. “It’s easy to contract and can be asymptomatic. The earlier a disease is diagnosed, the easier it will be to treat.”

Robertston said many STDs don’t show immediate symptoms. For that reason, she said many people acquire and spread them without ever knowing they are affected.

To address the high STD contraction rates among college students, Get Yourself Tested, a national sex awareness campaign, set up free mobile STD test clinics Monday at the Recreation Center. The Student Health Center and Jackson County Health Department provided free urine-based STD tests and free medication for gonorrhea and chlamydia.

“GYT is a social marketing campaign targeted toward college students,” Hamilton said. “The goal is to eliminate testing barriers and increase sex health awareness.”

The GYT initiative, which is endorsed by MTV, Planned Parenthood, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other organizations, informs young people about STDs, encourages testing and dispels common misconceptions about testing, according to GYTNOW.org.

Advertisement*

“There’s a lot of stigma around STD testing. We want students to realize the commonality and consequences of STDs,” Hamilton said. “Shame should never prevent a student from getting tested. Everyone should know their status.”

Daniel Akintola, a junior from Glenwood studying finance, said the GYT incentives are a great way to increase awareness.

“I would definitely get tested at the free screenings,” Akintola said. “A lot of people are embarrassed or too prideful when it comes to (STD) testing. Personally, I’d rather be safe than sorry.”

Akintola said he receives routine STD testing.

Hamilton said she looks forward to future collaborations between the university and health department to raise STD awareness and prevention at SIUC. She said the Student Health Center plans to hold more awareness events during the fall semester and offers STD testing for students year-round.

“We hope to reach people who won’t talk to a healthcare professionals about these issues for reasons of stigma, cost or apathy,” Hamilton said.