Are we communicating enough?

[micant1812able]

Are we communicating enough when figures rise and people living in some communities are not been treated properly. The subject "Sexual Health & HIV". There is a rise in Chlamydia, HIV and many more sexually transmitted infections - yet we are not communicating enough about safer sex - Why?

[Bagheera]

A few observations here:

- are we communicating enough... Perahps we could add the word 'effectively' in the middle of that sentence. And then say clearly not, it being less about volume, and more about hitting the right targets: trying to change people's behaviour right at the point they are going to do something very intimate, when they are also fully charged with hormones, lust and maybe even love - is always going to be a major challenge.

- add to the equation the massive advances that science has had around HIV - and the very successful move to normalise the condition, it has meant that post the 'tombstone generation' - people see it as a survivable condition, and once diagnosed behaviours such as sero-sorting lead to increases in other STI's including HCV and LGV. This also has meant that individuals perception of risk changes....

- as funding for health prevention campaigns becomes scarcer, and STI funding will have to fight against calls for funding on anti-smoking, and obesity, from the same pot....maybe the normalisation argument can ultimately work in all our favours.

When it becomes as acceptable to say - regardless of ones demographic profile - that one is going for a sexual health check up, as it is to say you are going to your GP for a general health check up.....we'll then be testing, and treating, frequently and often...maybe that will also help raise awareness, and drive behavioural change.

What we really need to do, IMHO, is drive down the numbers of undiagnosed so people can then make informed decisions about their, and others, health.

[robomum]

I think the figures can be misleading- we see more cases because we screen more people- if you look behind the headlines, we believe some infections are actually going down in prevalence... this applies in young people and chlamydia in particular.

We cannot be complacent, and the fact we are finding so many infections remains very worrying.I think we need to roll out the philosophy of chlamydia screening- in many areas, young people now expect to be asked about chlamydia screening tests if they go to a GP. It will take some work, not least with the healthcare workers, but if we can make it more acceptable and easier for anyone to be checked up for HIV and other STis then it must make good sense for everyone - Brits, get over your blushes!

[Hidden]

I understand that STI is increasing amongst the over 50s, so much time and effort is put into getting the young people to get tested. But there is a huge number in the older age group who having divorced are enjoying a new sexual freedom. Both straight and in many cases a gay relationships. Why are not free postal STI testing kits available to this age group