Focus
you are, you still have the same responsi- annual sexual health information report. She is, however, optimistic about the
bility for personal sexual health. However, if recent sexual health statis- new campaign and hopes, in particular,
“So more money needs to be put tics are anything to go by, the report will that it will do more to encourage people
into raising awareness of sexual health not be cause for celebration. Preliminary to get regular screenings and raise aware-
across the lifespan, not just among young figures released by ISD Scotland in July ness about STIs and their symptoms.
people.” on STIs and other activity in GUM clin- “There are a number of STIs, such
As it happens, the Scottish Gov- ics for 2007 show that 22,906 acute STIs as chlamydia that have few noticeable
ernment agrees. Earlier this month, it were diagnosed in such clinics in Scot- symptoms so are hard to self-detect.
announced that it is developing a £1m land last year - an increase of 7 per cent “But we also know that 30 per cent
marketing campaign for next spring that on the previous year and a leap of 110 of people with HIV are not aware they
will be aimed at getting people to be per cent since 1996. Overall, there was have it, which is far more serious.”
more open about talking about sex.
Peop
null
le are
a 13 per cent increase in the workload in However, while she agrees that it is
“We’re committed to doing every-
seeing their
GUM clinics last year. right that a campaign is being developed to
thing we can to improve the nation’s “Scotland is not very sexually target all ages, she adds that the increasing
health – and that includes our sexual
sex lives
healthy,” agrees Ailsa Splindler, National number of over-25s reporting STIs, many
health,” explains Public Health Minister
extended,
Director for Scotland, Terrence Higgins of whom she says will have had inferior sex
Shona Robison. “That’s why we are cur- so it is very Trust. “We are pretty much bottom of education when they were young, is testa-
rently developing a marketing campaign
important
the league in terms of Western Europe ment to the importance of getting those
which aims to promote better sexual
that they
and pretty appalling on a global scale in safe sex messages to people early.
health, focusing on the need for us to be
are getting
terms of normal measures such as teen- While she accepts that for some,
more open and willing to discuss rela- age pregnancies and STIs.” this is an uncomfortable issue, she says
tionships and sexual health matters.
those
What then does this say about the that quite simply, it is too important to
“Knowledge is power and by increas-
safe sex
success of the national strategy to date? ignore.
ing knowledge and providing better messages “You never know with health promo- “For those who argue it is a child
information – for instance, about risk-
too
tion work how much success you’ve had. protection issue, I agree that we have a
taking behaviour – people will be able to If we hadn’t done anything, would the responsibility to protect children by help-
make more informed choices.”
null
statistics have been even greater? We just ing them understand that they are sexual
Because the truth is that Scotland’s don’t know,” she says. “But either way, it is beings who live in a sexual environment
sexual health remains poor. Later this clear that it is not getting through to a lot and that they need to be informed to help
month, ISD Scotland will publish its of people who it needs to be reaching.” them make informed decisions.” HM
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| 17 November 2008 | Holyrood magazine | www.holyrood.com |
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