Last week, the Mississippi State Department of Health made smart phone application history with the launch of Your Personal Sexual Health, the first application of its kind in the United States that promotes safer sexual health.
The app also furnishes information concerning effective HIV and STD testing and prevention.
“This app really gives Mississippi an edge on sexual health knowledge and action,” MSDH State Epidemiologist Dr. Thomas Dobbs said in the MSDH release. “It’s a convenient way to get the answers to the questions you’ve always had but maybe didn’t feel comfortable asking.”
PSH is a free app and can be downloaded on both Apple and Android devices.
The application includes a variety of features including determining a person’s risk level, finding HIV and STD testing and treatment facilities and getting free condoms.
Anonymous “get tested” messages can be sent from the application. According to a screen shot of the app, messages can be sent as though they were from a friend and or a current or former sexual partner. One message example is “One of your sexual partners was diagnosed with a STD and you might have been exposed. Get checked soon.”
PSH also provides information concerning myths and facts about HIV and STDs, the AIDS hotline direct call number, prevention tips and much more.
Search the application store for Your PSH or visit www.healthyMS.com/apps.
The link for the IPhone application is https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/your-psh/id924599275?mt=8
And Android users can find the app by following https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mwb.hiv
According to the health department’s release, as of Dec. 31, 2013, there were about 10,473 Mississippians living with HIV. The 2012 National HIV Surveillance Report states Mississippi has the tenth highest rate of HIV infection in the United States. In 2013, there were 556 new reports of HIV infection in the state, the releases states.
For more information about HIV and STDs, visit the MSDH website at www.healthyMS.com.