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• Topic Summary
• Data & Trends
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1. Priority to supporting particular groups of young people whose life circumstances put them at particular risk of poor sexual health including young MSM, looked after children, unaccompanied minors and young people not in school, e.g expansion of 'Fastest' service.

2. Improve information to children and YP so that they can take informed decisions about preventing STIs, including HIV; e.g interactive learning material and secure methods of communication, e.g. telephone/text service available across the patch and SHA wide media campaign

The following demographic changes may have an impact on the requirements of the sexual health service in Newcastle:

Population increase and Sexually Transmitted Disesases

Chlamydia: The prevalence of Chlamydia infection in those having sexual health screening is 14.3% in men and 9.9% in women. Compared to 2006 using similar data the prevalence in men was 12.9% and in women 12.2%. This would indicate the screening service having a positive detection effect on women rather than men.  This could be explained by women being more acceptable of the screening process.

If there is not the investment in sexual health services, the underlying causes of poor sexual health are likely to remain the same.  There are particular groups of young people whose life circumstances put them at particular risk of poor sexual health.  These include:

Knowledge

There are gaps in knowledge about the number and prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases in Newcastle.  The incidence of sexually transmitted disease is continuing to rise.

Contraceptive Funding

There is a lack of accurate up to date information in relation to Long Acting Reversible Contraception activity in Primary Care and such information would be very useful to both providers and commissioners in terms of identifying gaps and targeting future resource.Services

• The highest burden of disease is borne by women, gay men, teenagers, young adults and black and ethnic minorities;
• Men and women from manual households have a median age at first intercourse about 2 years lower than for those from social class I households;
• Black young people are more likely to have first intercourse under the age of 16 than white or Asian young people;
• Britain's African communities have been particularly badly affected by HIV/AIDS, with high rates among both adults and children;

The Newcastle Sexual Health Strategy Group has undertaken a series of initiatives to underpin the development of the city wide strategy.  Many of these are relevant to young people, including: