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Health Issues
Sexual Health
Did you know…?
- One-third of grade 9 students and more than half of grade 11
students reported having had oral sex at least once.
- 19% of grade 9 girls (23% of boys) and 46% of grade 11 girls
(40% of boys) reported having sexual intercourse.
- Almost one-quarter of sexually active young people aged 15-24
report having sex without a condom because they were drinking
or using drugs at the time.
- Manitoba has some of the highest teen pregnancy and Sexually
Transmitted Infections (STI) rates in Canada.
- There were 2,142 pregnancies among 10-19 year olds in 2001/2002.
- 90% of youth who deliver a baby choose to keep the baby.
- Teen pregnancy causes many young people to drop out of school.
- Chlamydia is the most common reportable STI in Canadian 15-19
year olds, accounting for over two-thirds of all cases.
- Manitoba has the highest rate of Chlamydia and Gonorrhea of
all provinces in Canada among 15-24-year-olds.
For Teens…
You have the right to…
- Feel in control of your body.
- Understand and express your feelings.
- Choose how you will express your sexuality.
- Choose if you will be in a relationship, and what kind it will
be.
Things to think about…
- Set your own limits and feel good about your decision!
- Know that how valuable, lovable, worthwhile and able you feel,
is very important to sexual health
- Know that having sex is not something to do because everyone
is doing it.
- Know that abstinence is the only absolutely safe way to avoid
pregnancy or an STI.
- Ask yourself, if you are having sex or thinking about having
sex,
- Are you protected from both pregnancy and sexually transmitted
infections?
- Is your method of birth control easily available? Can you
get it when you need it?
Know the facts - Pregnancy can happen…
- The first time you have intercourse.
- While you have your period.
- Even if your partner pulls out before ejaculation.
- Whether a woman has an orgasm or not.
- In any sexual position (even standing up or under water).
- Even if you do not have actual intercourse (any position that
brings the penis in contact with the opening of the vagina can
result in pregnancy).
Know the facts - Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI)…
- Are passed through oral, vaginal, or anal sex.
- Can travel in blood, semen, and vaginal fluid.
- Can include both bacterial (Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis,
Trichomoniasis or “Trich”) and viral (HIV, Herpes,
Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Genital Warts or HPV) infections. Bacterial
infections can be cured (using antibiotics) and viral infections
are not curable.
- A person can have more than one STI at a time and can become
infected with the same STI more than once.
For Parents…
Communicating Tips
- Be honest!
- Understand that you are the primary sexuality educator of your
children.
- Know that it is OK to feel uncomfortable.
- Don’t wait until your children ask questions. Many never
ask. Decide what is important for them to know, and then tell
them before a crisis occurs.
- Reward questions – “I’m glad you came to me!”
or “That’s a good question!” This will teach
your child to come to you with other questions. Also be aware
of the question behind the question.
- Listen!
- Realize that facts are not enough. Share feelings, values, and
beliefs as well.
- Give clear explanations. Use correct names of body parts and
functions.
- Get to know your child’s environment. Current jokes, slang,
TV, and music will provide opportunities to discuss sexuality
issues.
- Talk about the joys of sexuality – Tell your children
about loving relationships.
- Keep the door open – Let your children know that you are
available to discuss sexuality.
- Know where to get resources/facts if you do not have the answers.
For Teachers…
Three General Learning Outcomes (GLOs) that address sexual health…
- Safety – demonstrate safe and responsible behaviour to
manage risks and prevent injuries in physical activity and daily
living.
- Personal and Social Management – develop self-understanding,
make health-enhancing decisions, work cooperatively and fairly
with others, and build positive relationships with others.
- Healthy Lifestyle Practices – make informed decisions
for healthy living related to personal health practices, active
living, healthy nutritional practices, substance use and abuse,
and human sexuality.
Some Myths and Facts about Sexual Health Education:
| MYTH |
FACT |
| Students in elementary
are too young to need sexuality education. |
In every subject,
children need a foundation in the early years, which is
built upon in later years. Children need accurate information
appropriate for their age. |
| If I talk to kids
about sex they will experiment. |
Children who are
well informed and comfortable talking about sexuality with
their parents are also the least likely to have intercourse
when they are adolescents. Knowledge does not lead to increased
sexual activity, whereas a lack of information poses greater
risk. |
| Kids will pick
up what they need to know. |
Kids are constantly
picking messages (from TV, music, peers, etc.), many of
which do not promote healthy sexuality. |
| If I don’t
feel comfortable talking to my students about sex, it’s
better not to say anything. |
It is common to
be uncomfortable talking about sexuality. However, you should
not let this stop you from educating your students. Find
community or public health resources to help you. Talking
about facts rather than values is a good way to feel more
comfortable. Training will also help you feel more confident.
You should also be sensitive to cultural differences when
discussing sexuality with your students. |
| Comprehensive
sexual health education doesn’t address abstinence.
|
Comprehensive
sexual health education covers all the options from no sex
to protected sexual intercourse to reducing the number of
sexual partners. The most effective programs helping young
people to abstain discuss both abstinence and contraception.
|
For more information
about
Healthy Schools, please contact:
Healthy Schools
Phone: (204) 788-6679
Email: healthyschools@gov.mb.ca |
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