Young people should just say "no" to risky sex
By Nadeeja Koralage London
Teaching young people to say "no" to sexually risky situations has been highlighted as one of the most effective methods in reducing the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), according to a new Health Development Agency report.
Preventions of STIs: a Review of Reviews into the Effectiveness
of Non-clinical Interventions, published this month, comes as the select committee on health reports that one in ten sexually active young women are infected with chlamydia.
Tonya Gillis of the Health Development Agency said, "Equipping young people with the skills, knowledge, and ability to say, 'No, I'm not happy with this,' has been found to be a very effective approach."
She added, "The most important issue is that we need to target our approaches carefully and do what is effective."
The report also found that school based sex education was valuable in reducing risky sexual behaviour in young people.
Other methods helpful in tackling the spread of sexually transmitted infections include telling partners, especially when health specialists
are involved in informing patients' partners that they may need curative or preventative treatment.
Director of evidence and guidance at the Health Development Agency, Mike Kelly, said, "In general, it is important that interventions are put in place for an appropriate length of time to really have an effect." He added that he looked forward to putting the evidence into practice.
