|
Parents of teenagers may be surprised to learn that 45% of teens see their parents as their role models, far ahead of friends (32%) and the entertainment industry (15%) when it comes to learning about sexual health. |
A Snapshot of What’s Happening in our Community:
63% of teenagers consider their parents to be a major source of information on sex and nearly 50% of teens consider their parent or guardian to be the most useful and valuable source of information (CAAH, 2006).
Many Canadian teens are showing responsibility when it comes to sex. However, there are still some areas of concern for those teens that are sexually active:
- 27% of Canadian teens between the ages of 14 and 17 reported being sexually active (CAAH).
- 24% reported that they did not use any protection against sexually transmitted diseases the last time they had sex.
- 1 in 4 teens reported using drugs or alcohol during their most recent sexual encounter (Kaiser 2005). This can impair judgment and cause teens to engage in unsafe sexual behaviours.
- More sexually active teens report having casual sex, which is often referred to as “hooking up” or having “friends with benefits”. More than 30% of teens report having sex in a casual relationship. In these relationships, unprotected sex often occurs (Kaiser, 2002).
- 68% of sexually active Canadian teens have had oral sex and nearly 1 in 5 teens do not know that sexually transmitted diseases can be transmitted by oral sex (CAAH, 2006).
|
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- One in 20 sexually active teens gets diagnosed with a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) each year (CAAH, 2006).
- 26% of Chlamydia infections and 20% of the Gonorrhea cases in Thunder Bay were among 15-19 year olds in 2005.
- 27.3% of positive HIV reports in Canada are accounted for by youth.
- The CAAH report showed that Canadian teens appear to be unaware of the consequences of STDs.
Read more about STDs at: www.tbdhu.com/SexualHealth/ |
There are a lot of reasons that a teen may decide to have sex. A teen is more likely to have sex if he or she:
- has friends who are sexually active
- has a poor relationships with parents
- has low self esteem
- spends a lot of time partying
- uses alcohol and/or drugs
- is pressured to have sex by his/her partner
- feels bored
- doesn’t feel connected at school
Contraception and Teen Pregnancy:
Teens are using contraception and condoms more often in the last decade (Kaiser, 2005). We have consistently seen youth buy contraceptives from our sexual health clinics. This shows that teens are planning ahead and making healthy sexual health choices. They are taking responsibility and trying to avoid an unplanned pregnancy.
The teen pregnancy rate has slowly gone down in Thunder Bay since 1996; however, we are still above the Ontario average. In Ontario, the teen pregnancy rate declined from 44.7 per 1000 female aged 15-19 in 1996 to 33.5 per 1000 females in 2001 (Ministry of Health, 2004). Click here to view the graph of this information: Teen Pregnancy Rates
We promote healthy sexual relationships by working to:
-
decrease the rate of teen pregnancy;
-
help teens get birth control;
-
teach life skills they need to deal with sexual relationships and behaviours;
-
reduce sexually transmitted diseases.
We teach youth in Thunder Bay and District about sexual health. This is provided by Public Health Nurses to Grade 7, 8 & 9 classes locally and in the Branch Offices. We cover topics such as abstinence, STD and pregnancy prevention, negotiating safer sex, healthy relationships, decision-making, assertiveness skills, birth control options and where to go to get information about sexual health matters. We work with community agencies that work with high risk youth and we promote our services at health fairs at Lakehead University and Confederation College.
|
Sexual Health Clinics are held Monday to Friday each week to meet the needs of youth in our community. Services are confidential and include:
- birth control (contraceptive) counselling as well as providing low cost birth control and free condoms;
- cervical screening;
- sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing and treatment;
- pregnancy testing and options counselling;
- anonymous HIV testing;
- Hepatitis B vaccine;
- referral to other agencies when appropriate.
The Health Unit’s Clinic Hours are found at: http://www.tbdhu.com/SexualHealth/ClinicHours.htm |
Back to Top
In a Health Unit survey about teen perspectives on sexual health, we found that although teens felt uncomfortable talking to their parents about sex, they wanted to have better communication with their parents. They felt that parents need to take the time to talk about what is happening in their teenager’s life and to be more understanding, particularly of their sexuality. Teens wanted parents to talk to them at a younger age about sex, including the emotional aspects of sex and using birth control. They wanted parents to not only talk, but listen too.
|
In a 2001 Health Unit survey, teens felt that talking about sex with their parents should take place over time, not just having the “big talk” once.
Teens wanted parents to know that some teens will decide to become sexually active and it is something that a parent cannot stop. Parents can, however, help their teen to make informed decisions about sex (TBDHU, 2001). |
Start talking early.
Healthy sexual development begins in childhood. It involves the “…integration of the physical, emotional, intellectual and social aspects of sexual being, in ways that are positively enriching and that enhance personality, communication and love” (WHO, 1975).
Stay connected to your teen.
Your teen trusts your information about sex. The Health Unit can support you in this role by providing sexual health resources and information. Read more online at: http://www.tbdhu.com/SexualHealth/TalkToKid.
|