DSouza

Shifts in youth health behaviours: local trends or something bigger?: 

Shifts in youth health behaviours: local trends or something bigger? The Consortium for Social and Policy Research on HIV, Hepatitis C and Related Diseases – Dockside, Sydney Monday 2nd April 2007 Vanessa D’Souza - Executive Officer The NSW Association for Adolescent Health Inc.

Who is NAAH?: 

Who is NAAH? The NSW Association for Adolescent Health Inc (NAAH) is the peak body for individuals and organisations committed to promoting the health and wellbeing of young people in NSW. NAAH members include: youth health workers, managers, health promotion officers, GPs, counsellors, nurses, Dandamp;A workers, psychiatrists, youth workers, creative arts workers… We're the only peak for youth health services in Australia

NAAH’s focus: 

NAAH’s focus Advocacy - inform and influence policy Promote and support youth health services Consult with young people and service providers Information, training and skill development Projects and resources to meet the sector’s needs

Overview of Youth Health Services: 

Overview of Youth Health Services 15 Youth health services throughout NSW Integrated multidisciplinary service models Services provided (differ from service to service) Health promotion and Group programs – therapeutic, support and education Crisis intervention and Basic needs Counselling, Nursing and Medical Multiple and soft entry access points - drop-in, arts programs, internet services Mobile outreach Worker training and development Resource and information distribution, referrals Partnerships with other govt and NGO services

Youth Health Services (continued): 

Youth Health Services (continued) Target group – young people aged 12– 25 years (or 12-20 years). Support may also be provided for their families and carers Significant interest in young people at-risk of homelessness Access directly from the community/ walk-ins or referrals Focus on a priority areas as identified by NSW Health including: nutrition and physical activity, alcohol, illicit drugs, tobacco use, mental health, sexual health, injury prevention (Young People’s Health Our Future 2002-2006, NSW Health Youth Policy January 1999).

Local youth health issues or something bigger?: 

Local youth health issues or something bigger? Informal consultations Local but shared trends/ concerns include: Oral sex Intoxication, unsafe sex, consent and sexual assault Sexual experimentation Self-harm Teenage pregnancy Drug andamp; Alcohol issues Non-identified sex workers Young men having sex with men

Oral sex: 

Oral sex High levels of indiscriminate oral sex (young girls and older boys) Perception that oral sex is safe Perception that oral sex is empowering, i.e. they have something to offer, are choosing to do this Case in W Sydney - 'Snap-on' bracelets that boys 'snap' on to girls at school Reports of young women getting text messages at night by older boys to provide oral sex Increasing rates of STIs is one of concern. Greater concern is self esteem and decision-making issues.  

Oral sex in Byron Bay: 

Oral sex in Byron Bay 11–12 yr old girls - oral sex with 18 yr old boys   Concern due to it being a big holiday spot – 'lots of guys ‘passing through’' Young women (recent focus group) said that Byron, 'you just grow up learning that this is what you do', i.e. becoming sexually active very early.   Workers concerned young women are looking for a relationship coming from these actions Others have commented that is sounds like it’s becoming a ‘rite of passage’ Tackling the problem with community forums and individual case management

Intoxication, unsafe sex, consent and sexual assault: 

Intoxication, unsafe sex, consent and sexual assault Intoxication leading to sexual assault Not reporting - believe they’ve brought it on themselves Not reporting - don’t see it as sexual assault - 'that’s what you do...isn’t it?' Concerns about consent - if a girl doesn’t actually say 'No' then she must be OK with it Young people engaging in unsafe sex (especially the mid-adolescent age group) Chlamydia - the infection rate among young people with multiple partners remains high

Sexual experimentationand Self harm: 

Sexual experimentation and Self harm Sexual experimentation and consent Cases of Sandamp;M as young as 14 and 15 years Lesbian acts with boys watching on Poor rates of contraception use Some cases involve coercion – question re consent Self harm Increasing no. of presentations - cutting, burning, eating disorders, binge drinking

Teenage pregnancy: 

Teenage pregnancy Some youth workers (largely in regional and rural areas) are reportedly claiming that young women are deliberately choosing to have babies to receive upfront baby bonus. I.e. that the cash is a major motivator for continuing a pregnancy. There’s wariness about these comments (fear comments perpetuate stereotypes) For some workers it has raised questions about the pressures young women may experience from their family/ partner to continue the pregnancy in order to meet financial needs/obligations.

Drug & alcohol issues: 

Drug andamp; alcohol issues In the Hunter there are very few Dandamp;A services for young people and NO service for safe detoxing. Cannabis use is high among young people and most of them have no idea how to stop and no service to assist them Service providers are concerned to hear recent research which indicates young people and new injecting drug users are experiencing high rates of Hepatitis C infection following a year-long study

Non-identified sex workers & Young men having sex with men: 

Non-identified sex workers andamp; Young men having sex with men Young people who do not identify as sex workers Young men who have sex with other men, but who do not identify as gay or as sex workers I.e. exchanging sex for accommodation, food, drugs

Possible areas for research development: 

Possible areas for research development Research may explore: Young people’s perceptions about oral sex, ‘sex for favours’, and issues re consent Sex ed in schools – is the focus on teenage pregnancy, STIs or relationships? Parental expectations and experiences in discussing sex with young people Evidence base of what works – e.g. role for advocacy and support

Possible areas for policy development: 

Possible areas for policy development Policy may include: Sex education in late primary/ early high school A new Youth health policy for NSW which must include emerging sexual health trends Include other government departments like Education, Community, Juvenile Justice etc

For more information about NSW youth health services: 

For more information about NSW youth health services Vanessa D’Souza Executive Officer NSW Association for Adolescent Health PO Box 613 Strawberry Hills, NSW 2012 Australia Email: eo@naah.org.au Tel: 02 9699 1033 Mob: 0400 569 733 MANY THANKS to the NSW YOUTH HEALTH SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THIS PRESENTATION