STDs+Pathfinder

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Pathfinder Welcome to the **Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)** pathfinder for Grade 9 Wellness students. This pathfinder will help you find information about:
 * the signs and symptoms of STIs
 * how STIs are treated
 * long-term effects
 * transmission and prevention

**Getting Started**
Remember to make a record of where your information comes from. This will save you time when constructing your references list and help you with in-text citations for statistics and quotes.

When you come across words you do not understand during the research process, use a dictionary to find their meaning. Look for the bi-lingual dictionaries on the dictionary stand if that will help you.

In order to evaluate the accuracy of the information you find it is recommended that you use the resources listed in this pathfinder to build a basic knowledge of your chosen STIs __before__ you search the internet. You may find everything you need here!

When you are creating STI brochure for teenagers, create a references list which should go right at the end of your brochure, so think about the order of the pages if you are creating a folded style. Check the format of your references list with the guide in your Student Planner. Remember from our previous lessons that websites like BibMe and Easybib are not always accurate, it is your responsibility to check your list before you hand in your brochure.

Online Resources
__**Sexuality and U**__ http://www.sexandu.ca/

__**American Sexual Health Association :**__ http://www.ashasexualhealth.org/sexual-health/

__**Brook for Young People**__ ([])

On this site you can find general information about STIs and how to avoid them, click on the __All About STIs__ link. Also there is detailed information about STIs, click on the __Types of STIs__ link.

This website is specifically aimed at people under 25. Do you think it is relevant to you?

On this site you can find information about STIs symptoms, treatments and long term effects. Use the links on the right hand side to access specific information about your chosen STIs.

If you prefer to get the information by watching a video, check out this 10 minute YouTube video by Dr. Doug Black.

__**NHS Choices**__ ([])

There are some videos on this site that you can watch about HIV, Herpes and Chlamydia. Use the links on the right hand side under the heading __Also on NHS Choices__ to find more information on specific STIs.

__**United States of America Centre for Disease Control**__ ([])

This website has fact sheets for many STIs that will help you. Click on the STI you are investigating and then on 'view fact sheet'. Not all of the diseases listed are STIs though, remember to check that.

This site is published by a government agency, you can tell this by the .gov suffix on the website address. Do you think this makes it more reliable than other websites?

__**TeensHealth**__ ([|http://kidshealth.org/teen/sexual_health/#cat20017])

You might have used this website when you researched your assignment on drug use. It's got a big section on STIs too. Click on the name of the STI you are investigating to get to the information. Also check out the other articles on myths and talking to people about STIs, you might find them helpful.

__**NHS Choices**__ ([])

There are some videos on this site that you can watch about HIV, Herpes and Chlamydia. Use the links on the right hand side under the heading __Also on NHS Choices__ to find more information on specific STIs.


 * __Go Ask Alice!__** ([|http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/Cat7-full.html#89])

You've probably seen this question/answer style website when you were doing your assignment on drugs. It is an excellent source of information. Before you use it, think about the quality of the answers... what would make them reliable? Find out more about who writes them by clicking on the __about Go Ask Alice!__ link.

To find answers to questions about the STD you're investigating scroll down the list to find it then click on any questions you think might lead to answers you can use for this assignment.

This is a website run by the National Health Service in the UK, what does this tell you about the reliability of the information on this site?


 * __Family Planning NZ__** ([])

This is a fact sheet about STDs, their transmission, symptoms and treatment. It's laid out clearly and is full of facts. There are links to further information about some of the STDs.

__**National Cancer Institute**__ []

This webpage is about cervical cancer causes, detection and treatment. Cervical cancer has been linked to HPV.

**Print Resources**
by Jill Grimes, M.D.
 * __Seductive Delusions: How Everyday People Catch STDs__** (616.95 GRI)

This book is quite long, but you don't have to read all of it. Use the table of contents to find the pages which will be most useful to you. For each STD there are case studies that you can read, a facts section and additional online resources you can look at.

What does the M.D. mean after the author's name? What does this tell you about her?

by Deborah Hatchell
 * __What Smart Teenagers Know... About Dating, Relationships and Ses__** (646.7 HAT)

This book has a small but very informative section on STDs. Use the index at the back of the book and your keywords to find the information in this book.

by Sean Connolly
 * __Need to Know Sexually Transmitted Diseases__** (616.95 CON)

You may have used this series during your assignment on drugs. This book has information about the history of STDs as well as information about treatment, transmission and long term effects. Use the index in the back of the book to help you find the specific information you need. There are pictures in this book that you may want to use for your brochure. Use the scanner in the library to scan these pictures into digital format. Ask the librarian for help with this.

by Sean Connolly
 * __Need to Know HIV and AIDS__** (616.97 CON)

This book has information about the discovery, transmission and treatment for HIV and AIDS. Use the index in the back of the book to help you find the specific information you need.

There are many more books on HIV and AIDS that you can use located at 616.97.

__**S.E.X.**__ (306.7 COR) by Heather Corinna

This book is aimed at teenagers in High School, so it's going to have information that is particularly relevant to your readers. Chapter 9 is dedicated to STDs and you can use the index to find specific information about the diseases you are researching.

by Ann Byers
 * __Sexually Transmitted Diseases: A Hot Issue__** (616.95 BYE)

This book has very detailed information about STDs and also some interesting statistics about STDs. Use the index to find the specific information you need.

Remember, if you choose to use some of the statistics in your brochure, think about their relevance to your audience. You must also say where they came from (cite them).