Boston Health News
By adamg - 2/13/09 - 3:00 pm
Tinker Ready, a longtime health reporter, has just started Boston Health News to cover health issues in the Boston area.
Via Dan Kennedy.
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Comments
"Let's get tested 2GETHER B4 we have sex, for A VARIETY of STDs.
"Let's get tested TOGETHER BEFORE we have sex, for A VARIETY of STDs."
a) How widespread is the phenomenon?...
b) are the rates of new infections zero or nearly zero for sex partners taking part in the phenomenon?... of the strategy of "Let's get tested TOGETHER BEFORE we have sex, for A VARIETY of STDs." Sexual health checkups reduce ambiguity and can be like anything else POTENTIAL sex partners do together.
references
http://NotB4WeKnow.blogspot.com
Wouldn't you rather be fixated on libraries again?
STD public health is a serious area, with very sensitive PR dynamics that can make the difference between life and death for many people.
Unreadable Web pages that appear generated by some NLP hack at the AI Lab are just going to waste some of the extremely limited attention that people have for public health messages.
For example, I was willing to click your link and find out more, but after a minute of my time was wasted, I am less likely to click for more information on that topic the next time.
Incidentally, regarding STD testing, people should know...
I heard a rumor that Mass. budget cuts will likely mean that the GID unit at MGH will lose its funding to provide affordable STD testing to the Boston community.
http://www2.massgeneral.org/id/clinical_practice/std_clinic/
I have used the MGH clinic myself before, for routine testing after a relationship (always 100% clean!). I started going to MGH after my GP seemed non-thrilled about doing the exam one time, and another time when the staff at my GP's office seemed unfamiliar with their HIV-testing procedures. I decided the specialists at the MGH clinic were called for, since having to use my GP's office was a deterrent that was making me put off testing.
The MGH clinic also works on a "donations" basis, to be fully accessible to people for whom the cost would be a deterrent to getting tested.
The MGH clinic also does pseudonymous HIV testing, which lets them offer counseling on HIV+ results, but avoids some of the fear deterrent to getting tested.
I'd encourage people to use the MGH clinic (as they need testing, and if the idea of getting tested through their usual doctor's office is a barrier), and to also put in a good word for the MGH STD clinic with their state senators.