Introduction
This report will investigate and give an overview of the sexual health of young people in NSW. The nature of sexual health, the prevalence and trends of the health behaviours associated with sexual health, such as the amount of young people exploring their sexuality, and the protective and risk behaviours involved, including the participation of young people in sexual activity, will all be addressed throughout this report. Societal perceptions of sexual health will also be challenged using statistical evidence and research.
The Nature of Sexual Health
Relationships, sexuality and sex is central to health and well being. Sexual health education is important not only in terms of increasing the effectiveness of interventions for
…show more content…
In an article published in 2010, Associate Professor Juliette Goldman of Griffith University observed that the age range within which first sexual intercourse is likely to occur has not altered appreciably for some time, falling between 15 and 19 years. (Mcgaurr, 2015) This statement displays how emotional health can also be affected by sexual behaviours as individuals at such a young age participating in sexual activity can have negative consequences impacting their …show more content…
It was found that adolescents living with a single parent are more likely to have had sexual intercourse than those living with both biological parents. For girls, the experience of sexual abuse in the family as a child or adolescent is linked to increased risk of adolescent pregnancy. In addition, adolescents whose parents have higher education and income are more likely both to postpone sexual intercourse and to use contraception if they do engage in sexual intercourse. The quality of the parent-child relationship also plays a huge role in the decisions associated with sexual behaviours.
The survey seen below in Figure 1 from the NSW STI strategy 2016-2020 data report is designed to capture potential trends of self-reported condomless sexual intercourse with casual partners and was part of the NSW STI strategy from January-June 2017.
According to Figure 1 [below], it was found that respondents who were sexually active and having condomless sexual intercourse with casual partners was slightly higher in 2017 (17.6%) than in 2016 (16.6%). It was also found that females were more likely to not use a condom during sexual activity than males in both 2016 and
The focal point of this report is the Victorian Health and Wellbeing plan 2015 – 2019, created by the Victorian State Government after the imminent success of the original Victorian Health and Wellbeing plan allying the years of 2011 – 2015. The plan shares the ambitions of the World Health Organisation’s Global action plan on prevention and control of non-communicable disease. These ambitions of the distinct plan are “to reduce modifiable risk-factors and underlying social determinants by creating equitable health-promoting environments while aiming to strengthen and orient health systems for disease prevention and control through people-centred healthcare” (Department of Health, 2015). The report will tackle the priority area of Improving Sexual Health and Reproductive Health along with major components of the priority area such as the determinants of health and the at-risk groups affected by such an alteration. The determinants discussed are both biological and social, the biological; sex, the social; the social gradient, education and social support. The at-risk groups influenced by the priority area are; adolescents, pregnant women and new born children.
Since the HIV/AIDS epidemic began in the U.S. in the early 1980s the issue of sex education for American youth has had the attention of the nation. There are about 400,000 teen births every year in the U.S, with about 9 billion in associated public costs. STI contraction in general, as well as teen pregnancy, have put the subject even more so on the forefront of the nation’s leading issues. The approach and method for proper and effective sex education has been hotly debated. Some believe that teaching abstinence-only until marriage is the best method while others believe that a more comprehensive approach, which includes abstinence promotion as well as contraceptive information, is necessary. Abstinence-only program curriculums disregard medical ethics and scientific accuracy, and have been empirically proven to be ineffective; therefore, comprehensive sex education programs which are medically accurate, science-based and empirically proven should be the standard method of sex education for students/children in the U.S.
The birth rate among teens in the United States has declined 9% from 2009 to 2010, a historic low among all racial and ethnic groups, with the least being born in 2010; and in 2011 the number of babies born to adolescents aged 15-19 years of age was 329,797 (“Birth Rates for U.S.”, 2012). Although the decline in unwanted and unplanned teen births is on the rise the United States continues to be among the highest of industrialized countries facing this problem. This is a prevailing social concern because of the health risks to these young mothers as well as their babies. Teens at higher risk of becoming pregnant are raised at or below the poverty level by single parents; live in environments that cause high levels of stress (i.e., divorce, sexual psychological and physical abuse); are influenced by peers or family members that are sexually active; and lack parental guidance that would direct them to be responsible and self-controlled.
Meihua, Jin, et al. "Correlates Of Consistent Condom Use Among Men Who Have Sex With Men Recruited Through The Internet In Huzhou City: A Cross-Sectional Survey." BMC Public Health 13.1 (2013): 1-15. Academic Search Complete. Web. 04 Apr. 2014.
The availability of condoms and the pill has led to a huge increase in casual sex,
...ax S(1997) Impact of HIV and Sexual Health Education on the Sexual Behaviour of Young People: a Review Update
American Social Health Association. Condoms, Contraceptives, and STIs. Research Triangle Park: American Social Health Association, Ink, 2007. Print.
Unfortunately, condom use among young men appears to have plateaued since 1988. Comparisons of 1988 and 1991 NSAM data show no change in rates of use.
As nurses, it is important that we “be both empowered and competent enablers of patient empowerment.” (Burkhardt & Nathaniel, 2014, p. 493) We took an oath to follow an ethical code which requires us to act as our patient’s advocate while providing safe nursing care. Nevertheless, we cannot make every medical choice or decision on their behalf. We also cannot empower them, “because to do so removes the element of choice.” (Burkhardt & Nathaniel, 2014, p. 501) We can, however, “facilitate empowerment by working directly with patients and through addressing social, political, and environmental factors affecting empowerment of individuals and communities.” (Burkhardt & Nathaniel, 2014, p. 493) In this paper, I will discuss how nurses can provide empowerment, some of the issues and constraints affecting empowerment, and how I feel regarding empowerment in my workplace.
The government likes to pretend that if high school students get taught the “abstinence-only” method they would never think of taking part in sexual activities. Statistically this is incorrect. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “56 percent of high school students are virgins”(Martin). For the 56 percent abstinence only is doing them well, but there are still 44 percent of high school students engaging in sex without knowing the precau...
In America, a significant problem we should look at is regarding sexually active young teens. It seems that almost every teen is sexually active. They are having sex at such a early age. A question that rings in our minds, is do they truly even know what sex is? Growing up, Catholic teachings instructed myself to wait until marriage. They say premarital sex is a sin. Now, not only are churches teaching abstinence, but, schools as well. Premarital sex is a important growing problem: that usually results in a unwanted pregnancy, in some cases; forced abortion, sexually transmitted diseases, ultimate emotions of remorse. Sexual relations among teens is a problem not only for them, but possibly their children and America as a whole.
Young People, sexuality and relationships. So what should teens be taught about sexuality? In the article, “Young People, Sexuality and Relationships,” by Peter Aggleton, the author describes how sex isn’t used as something great in a relationship but gives the true reasons teens are having sex. The article was published in the year 2000 in the Journal of Sexual and Relationship Therapy.
The glamorous side of sex is everywhere; music, tv shows, movies and social media. To a mature adult, it is easy to ignore the sexual messages in those outlets. However, to a teenager, going through mental and physical changes and peer pressure, it is extremely easy to fall for what is shown to “cool.” Everyone has fallen for half truths to be cool in their teenage life. It just so happens that teen pregnancies and STDs are not one of those things that one can simply walk away from. Babies and STDs leave a lasting effect on everyone involved. The National Conference of State Legislatures states:
In addition, despite what parents may believe, they have a huge impact on their child’s life because their children depend on them. Parents tend to lack supervision over their teen and lack showing them support. The quality of parents’ relationships with their teenagers can make a difference in the decisions that their teen make about sex. It is proven that, parents who supervise and monitor their teen’s action are more likely to be older when they first have sex, to have fewer partners, to use contraception, and to be less at-risk for pregnancy. In addition, Teens even say that parents influence their
Sex education in our schools has been a hot topic of debate for decades. The main point in question has been whether to utilize comprehensive sex education or abstinence-only curriculum to educate our youth. The popularity of abstinence-only curriculum over the last couple of decades has grown largely due to the United States government passing a law to give funding to states that teach the abstinence-only approach to sex education. But not teaching our children about sex and sexuality is not giving them the information they need to make well educated decisions. Sex education in our schools should teach more than just abstinence-only because these programs are not proven to prevent teens from having sex. Children need to be educated on how to prevent contracting sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies and be given the knowledge to understand the changes to their bodies during puberty. According to the Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education: Kindergarten-12th Grade from the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS), comprehensive sex education “should be appropriate to age, developmental level, and cultural background of students and respect the diversity of values and beliefs represented in the community” (SIECUS).