Friday, 25 May 2007

Sexually Transmitted Infections Increasing

In my first blog posting, I tackled the subject of the lack of comprehensive sexuality education in Canadian schools; last week a newspaper article in Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper looked at teen pregnancy and abortion. The article entitled "Teen pregnancies drop to a new low, abortions continue decline" was written by public health reporter André Picard and details how "the teenage pregnancy rate has hit an all-time low and that abortion has also fallen to its lowest level in more than a decade"

How school can help

They can ensure all young people receive a comprehensive programme of sex and relationships education (SRE) – including information on where they can access specialist advice and support delivered through the framework for Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE). They can help raise aspirations of young women at risk of teenage pregnancy, so that they delay parenthood until they are in a better position – emotionally, educationally and financially – to face its consequences; They can help improve young people’s access to specialist advice and support from health professionals. The provision of PSHE and easy access to young people friendly contraceptive services are key factors in areas with declining teenage conception rates.

Young people, half the World's population!

Young people now comprise over half of the world's population, with adolescents (age 10-19) making up 20%. These young women and men have special needs for health care and education. Many of them are already sexually active and if they lack knowledge about sex, reproductive health and relationships, they can be highly vulnerable to unwanted sex, pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Meeting the sexual and reproductive health needs of young people is key to helping them fulfil their individual potential and make their contribution to the world.

Are you ready? Young people"s views of sex and relationships by fpa November 2004

The finding shows that young people are influenced by a complex range of different factors throughout their daily lives. In terms of shaping their attitudes – and their behaviour – around sex and relationships, the most important influences are their peer group, family and the media, with variations according to age, gender and socio-economic background. http://www.fpa.org.uk/attachments/published/344/areyouready[1].pdf

Young Minds in a big World

The under-24s are the age group most likely to die from unsafe abortions, contract STIs - including HIV/AIDS - and suffer sexual violence. This is the result of a lack of information and targeted services to empower them in their early reproductive years, and before they become sexually active. Empowering young people with the basic human right of reproductive choice is now of critical importance. Decisions made at this critical time will affect the current and future life options of young people.

Caution!

Caution!
Keep to sex safe and protect yourself with a condom. Condoms can protect you against many sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV, and help prevent unintended pregnancy. Condoms are made to strict standards, with a very low failure rate when used correctly. Instructions on how to use them come inside the pack. If they break or come off it’s usually because of a mistake made when they were used. If you follow our guidelines the chances of them failing are very low.

Standing together for the fight against sexual transmitted infections amongst young people

Standing together for the fight against sexual transmitted infections amongst young people

Education is the key

Education is the key

Don't be under influence, be original

Don't be under influence, be original

What proportion of young people have chlamydia?

Recent surveys of young women attending GP clinics have found a chlamydia prevalence of 8.1% among those under 20 years old, and 5.2% among those 20-24 years old. However, rates vary widely according to the setting in which surveys take place. Between April 2005 and March 2006, the NCSP found a chlamydia prevalence of 10.2% among women under 25 years old, and 10.1% among men in the same age group.

Protection, a way of life

Protection, a way of life

Safe Sex

Condoms are still the safest and easiest way to safeguard your sexual health. Practicing safer sex means protecting yourself and your partner from sexually transmitted infections and HIV infection by taking the necessary precautions during sex and foreplay.

What are STIs?

Anyone who has sex can be infected with a sexually transmitted infection (STI). STIs can be passed on during any intimate physical contact as well as full sexual intercourse, including sexual foreplay and anal and oral sex.

Chlamydia - what is it?

Chlamydia is a common infection that can cause serious problems such as infertility. It now affects around 1 in 10 people – women and men. It often has no symptoms at all – many people have no idea that they are infected . It is not true that only people who sleep around are at risk of sexually transmitted infections – anyone can be unlucky and chlamydia is easy to pass on. Most people will not have any symptoms. Having different partners increases the risk Using condoms reduces the risk.

Genital Warts - What is it?

Genital warts are the most common STI seen at genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in the UK, although many people who carry the virus that causes them have no physical symptoms. Genital warts are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) and can appear anywhere on the genital or anal area. Genital warts are passed on by direct skin-to-skin genital contact with an infected person. This includes:

Contraceptive

Department of Health is working to modernise sexual health services, halt the spread of sexually transmitted infections and reduce the numbers of unintended pregnancies. Approximately 4 million people use contraception services each year. Roughly three-quarters see a GP and the remainder attend specialist community contraception services (family planning clinics). Contraception servies are available, free of charge, to all those in need - both for men and women. Improving access to contraceptive services and to the full range of methods is one of the key aims of the Government's White Paper - Choosing Health: making healthy choices easier. http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Policyandguidance/Healthandsocialcaretopics/Sexualhealth/Sexualhealthgeneralinformation/DH_4001998

A better way to have piece of mind

A better way to have piece of mind

Speak to someone

Speak to someone

Genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics

A GUM clinic is one of the places you can go to for an HIV test. At a GUM clinic the staff will give you advice and support before and after testing, help you decide upon any treatments that may be necessary, and provide all kinds of information about sexual health. There may be aspects of your sexual health that you haven’t considered and preventative measures that they can help you with, such as vaccinating you against Hepatitis A and B. All these services are free, confidential and anonymous (if you want them to be).

Walk don't Run, " i am a fragile person, i put a very hard exterior because of what's inside"

Walk don't Run, " i am a fragile person, i put a very hard exterior because of what's inside"

Promoting confidence and self-esteem

It is clear from the research that young people find it difficult to communicate about sex and relationships. Even within peer groups, some young people find it hard to open up about their own personal views and experiences. Research has shows that young people with lower self-esteem are more likely to start sexual activity earlier and to take more risks, it could be in order to prove themselves, to enhance their reputation, or to preserve a relationship???

Don't ride over the edge

Don't ride over the edge

Keeping the Promise, one person is infected with HIV every 6.4 second

Keeping the Promise, one person is infected with HIV every 6.4 second

"Nobody has a body to die for"

"Nobody has a body to die for"

Work in progress

One of the key means of HIV prevention is education – teaching people about HIV: what it is, what it does, and how people can protect themselves. Over half of the world’s population is now under 25 years old. Young people are often particularly vulnerable to sexually-transmitted HIV, and to HIV infection as a result of drug-use. Young people (15-24 years old) account for half of all new HIV infections worldwide - more than 6,000 become infected with HIV every day.

Supporting people with HIV and Aids

Supporting people with HIV and Aids

Condoms the "essential wear"

Condoms the "essential wear"

Where to get Condoms

Family planning and sexual health clinics provide condoms free of change to young people but availability can vary from one area to another. The following types of organisations may supply free condoms: Family planning clinicsBrook CentresNHS sexual health (GUM) clinicsYoung people's clinics if you are under 25

Helpline

Sexual Health Line 0800 567 123 (24 hours)Sexual health direct, run by fpa, 0845 310 1334 (Monday to Friday 9am-6pm)Sexwise for under 19s only confidential advice line 0800 282 930 (7am-midnight) NHS Direct 0845 46 47 Open 24 hours a day, (7 days a week)

The Way Forward

The Way Forward

What about unwanted pregnancy

Both young men and young women speak openly about the importance of contraception, in terms of protecting against sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancy. However, it emerges that unwanted pregnancy is perceived to be more of an issue for young women, and there is therefore a sense that the responsibility for preventing pregnancy lies ultimately with them.

Policies

Policies

Campaign!!!!

The Marie Stopes International (MSI Partnership), in collaboration with Interact Worldwide, has launched a campaign to put pressure on the UK government to take the lead in ensuring that the international donor community fulfils promises made a decade ago to support global efforts to achieve sexual and reproductive health and rights for all by 2015; and to lead opposition to those political and ideological forces in the USA, Europe and elsewhere that are actively seeking to undermine and even reverse progress made in the last decade.

"In a few years time buying condom will be like buying a pack of chewing gums"

"In a few years time buying condom will be like buying a pack of chewing gums"

Social Exclusion & HIV

We need to break the silence, banish the stigma and discrimination and ensure total inclusiveness within the struggle against AIDS. A report by THT http://www.tht.org.uk/informationresources/publications/policyreports/socialexclusionandhiv582.pdf