UNICEF UK and the Terrence Higgins Trust released a paper in July to highlight young people’s views on sex and health. The paper ‘Sexual Health, Rights and Staying Safe’, is trying to educate and focus on the best methods to prevent sexually transmitted diseases amongst young people. The paper came about from online survey research and one on one interviews with a wide selection of 12-24-year olds, and shows that young people need to receive more information on protecting their sexual health.
Campaigns Manager at UNICEF UK, Laura Keely, said –
Although HIV and AIDS only affects a small proportion of young people in the UK, the rate of sexually transmitted infections in general amongst young people is a matter of growing concern. In fact, young people between 16 and 24 years old are the age group most at risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI).
The findings showed many young people find it awkward and embarrassing to access sexual health services, with fear of pregnancy being the major concern ahead of sexually transmitted diseases. The research also found that young people were afraid to be seen at walk in clinics as the waiting time can sometimes last several hours to see a health professional. Plus there seem to be a general lack of understanding of the causes and symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases.
Youth Officer for UNICEF UK, Jazmin Burgess, said
Our research shows that young people fear pregnancy far more than sexually-transmitted infections. As pregnancy is the number one issue on their agenda and overshadows all others, many feel ‘safe’ if they are using the contraceptive pill. Over a third of the young respondents who had had sex reported that they only sometimes,or never used a condom. And 70 per cent of those that had had unprotected sex did not feel that they needed to visit a sexual health service.
UNICEF is now asking the UK Government to really strive and ensure that children have thorough and frank access to information, and improve on its efforts to provide young people with the appropriate sexual health services.
