Safer sex reminder - not just for the festive season
As the Christmas party season gets underway, many people will be socialising more and possibly enjoying a drink. The Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (HPA) is reminding them to think about their sexual health.
Alcohol is also a powerful drug that can seriously affect our judgement when it comes to sexual health and the HPA therefore has developed a number of radio advertisements in collaboration with the Family Planning Association (fpa) which will be broadcast over the next two weeks as a humorous reminder for 18–30 year olds of the importance of practising safer sex not just during the festive season but all year round.
Dr Brian Gaffney, Chief Executive of the HPA, said: “Sexual health is a very important part of our overall health and wellbeing. These advertisements use humour to raise awareness of sexual health issues including sexually transmitted infections, unplanned pregnancies and safer sex.”
Latest figures show that chlamydia, an STI which can have no symptoms in at least 50% of men and 70% of women and which for women if untreated can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy and infertility, accounted for over one in four of all new STIs diagnosed in 2007 with the highest rates of infection being among the 20–24 year age group for both males and females.¹
Dr Gaffney concluded: “We want our young people to have a good time and enjoy the party season. Thinking ahead and taking the right precautions will all help to reduce the risk of a potentially good night out ending badly. If anyone is concerned about their sexual health they should contact their local Genito Unrinary Medicine (GUM) clinic or make an appointment with their GP without delay as they could risk putting their health at risk.”
END
Notes to the Editor
Dr Brian Gaffney will be available for interview on Monday 8 December. Please contact HPA Press Office to arrange interview.
¹ Health Protection Agency and Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (NI). HIV and STI surveillance in Northern Ireland: 2008
The advertisements will be broadcast on Downtown Radio, Cool FM, Citybeat Radio and Q102FM and will run over the next two weeks.
For information and advice contact the fpa helpline on 028 9032 5488.
For further information contact:
Jenny Dougan at the HPA on 028 9031 1611.
|
As from 1 April 2009 all Health Promotion Agency responsibilities have been transferred to the