I have had a wonderful experience as the research assistant to Dr. Alyssa Lederer this past semester. We have worked hard to complete a paper that has been turned in for peer review and (hopefully) publishing. Our paper investigates the perceptions of the terms STD and STI among college-aged students. We found that late adolescents generally perceive the two terms synonymously and that their perceptions were commonly grounded in misinformation.
It was very interesting being on the research side of an issue that I am very invested in. A lot of the work I do outside of school, and this position, deals with sexual health education. It was empowering being a part of something that will be so applicable to the work I am currently doing at Tulane, and what I hope to be doing in the future as a nurse-midwife. One of the main conclusions from our findings was that because individuals perceive STD and STI similarly it is important as health educators to check in with your patient/population to use the terminology that they’re most comfortable with. Many of the misperceptions highlighted in our investigation could be improved upon with effective communication. It is not enough to shift the terminology from “disease” to “infection” in hopes that the term will carry fewer stigmas. Combatting STD/STI stigma requires more from health educators.
This summer I will be home in Eugene, OR continuing work in reproductive/sexual health in a different context. I will be working in a clinic under a doctor and nurse who specialize in diagnosing and treating breast cancer. I will also be continuing my work as a research assistant to Dr. Lederer via email and Skype. I am excited to be working in both of these realms as I have come to realize overlap between disciplines. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities this internship has given me, and I look forward to working with the women of Newcomb to continually advocate for healthier practices in reproductive health.