The predisposing, enabling, and reinforcing factors that act as supports for or barriers to changing the behaviors and environmental factors you identified in Sections 1 and 2 (Phase 3)

The project will find several factors that act as barriers to reducing the spread of STDs. The most prominent barrier is peer pressure, which is a key issue in Baltimore City. Peer pressure results in adolescents having sex with individuals who have STDs and possibly spreading it to other individuals. The behavioral change process will be a challenge for this program because it deals with personal behavior such as drug use, smoking, and risk-taking sexual activity among adolescents and young adults. While peer pressure is a key player in these behaviors, there are other factors that serve as barriers to change such as lack of knowledge about the risks associated with an STD and the fear of being labeled or judged by peers or family members.

Also, individuals are unaware of the importance of being tested for an STD. The most prominent factor that acts as a barrier to changing risky sexual behaviors is lack of awareness and knowledge. These individuals do not feel comfortable seeking help because they are not educated on how to decrease their risk or how to reduce their partner’s risk. Other barriers to changing these behaviors includes lack of access to health care, lack of knowledge about emergency contraception (EC), and a lack of understanding that an infection can last years when left untreated.