Philadelphia launches unique initiatives to raise STD awareness

After a report from the Philadelphia Department of Health indicated that local teens account for the majority of the city's climbing sexually transmitted disease (STD) prevalence, new initiatives geared toward younger generations are cropping up around the area.

Fox 29 News reported that Mayor Michael Nutter recently announced the winner of a condom wrapper design contest. Over 100 labels were submitted, but first prize went to Michael Bodenberger's "The Freedom Condom," the news provider explained.

Since many teens spend a significant amount of time online, the city recently launched a youth-based website called TakeControlPhilly.org, which provides information on safe sex and STDs, according to the news source. The Health Department also created Facebook and Twitter accounts to reach out to adolescents via social networking.

The number of teens who engage in unprotected sex may contribute to the younger demographic's high prevalence of STDs. According to a recent survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 34 percent of sexually active young adults did not use a condom during their most recent sexual encounter.