About the Initiative
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are prevalent in communities of gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM). This initiative aims to address this by educating both medical care providers and MSM about the appropriateness and importance of routine STD screening if risk is present.
For medical care providers resources were developed to improve clinicians' knowledge, skills, and comfort in effectively diagnosing and managing STDs in gay men and other MSM. Tools to support routine and periodic sexual history taking, laboratory screening for STDs as well as risk reduction counseling are included. Also offered is guidance for creating a safe clinical environment for gay, bisexual, and other MSM patients. All of the tools and resources can be found on this website.
For gay men and other MSM a social marketing campaign has been launched in various cities across California. The campaign, which includes print and web-based media, is designed to educate MSM about the benefits of routine STD screening, regardless of the presence of symptoms.
It is our hope that by working with both medical care providers and gay men and other MSM we can increase STD screening and reduce further transmission.
This initiative is funded by the California Department of Health Services, STD Control Branch and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Syphilis Elimination Efforts. It was developed by the California STD/HIV Prevention Training Center and the California Department of Health Services, STD Control Branch with assistance from the California Department of Health Services, Office of AIDS.
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