IntroductionSexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are now called sexually transmitted infections (STIs) because some people can become infected and infect others but never show signs of the disease. Of the estimated 12 million new cases of STDs/STIs, two-thirds of these cases are diagnosed each year in the United States. Contrary to popular belief, women are often exposed to STDs/STIs after just one contact with an infected partner. STDs/STIs are particularly distressing among women due to the serious and life-threatening difficulties during pregnancy (Ford & Shimers – Bowers, 2009). STIs have become a significant public health problem, particularly among minorities. STIs are highly prevalent among African American and Hispanic women and cause maternal and perinatal morbidity (CDC, 2008). STIs can cause several adverse outcomes during pregnancy, including abortion, premature birth, stillbirth, and low birth weight. Additionally, STIs have been shown to orchestrate HIV transmission and the prevalence of STIs varies among different groups of people. It is therefore necessary for the local community to know the epidemiology of STIs by examining and monitoring the prevalence of etiological agents. According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2010) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2010), approximately two million women are affected by sexually transmitted diseases in America each year. Some may not believe it, but pregnancy does not protect against STDs/STIs, leaving pregnant women vulnerable to STDs/STIs and the consequences far more dangerous for them and their unborn fetus (CDC, 2008 ). This study conducted by the CDC (2008) determined that 3.2 million adolescent girls......middle of article......ses/2008/03/080312084645.htmDiClemente, RJ, McDermott- Sales, J., Danner, F., Crosby, R.A. (2011). Association between sexually transmitted diseases and self-reported abstinence among young adults. Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. February 2011; 127:208-213. Ford, CA, Shimer-Bowers, E. (2009). Living with a sexually transmitted disease. File FactsKershaw, T.S., Magriples, U., Westdahl, C., Schindler-Rising, S., & Ickovics, J. (2009). Pregnancy as a window of opportunity for HIV prevention. American Journal of Public Health, November 99: 2079-2086. McMillan, J.A., Feigin, R.D., DeAngelis, C., & Jones, M.D. (2006). Oski Pediatrics: principles and practice. 2nd ed. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. Talashek, ML, Alba, ML and Patel, A. (2006). Untangling pregnancy-related health disparities. Pediatric Nursing Journal. 11:14 - 27