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Shock figures for sexually transmitted infections in under-16s revealed



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Published Date: 08 September 2008
HUNDREDS of Scots children under 16 contracted sexually transmitted infections last year, official data showed today.
Figures from the Information and Statistics Division showed 181 youngsters were infected with chlamydia.

Sixty two tested positive for genital warts, 13 contracted herpes and 10 were diagnosed with gonorrhoea.

STI rates have soared in recent ti
mes and data released in July showed a 6% jump in infections across the UK.

Chlamydia saw the biggest rise in under 16s in Scotland.

The infection is the most common, treatable STI and is known as the "silent epidemic" as it often shows no symptoms but can cause infertility if left untreated.

The statistics division did not publish figures concerning less than four people to prevent identification of individual children.

Today's figures come a day after the Scottish Government announced plans to increase the number of drop-in clinics where youngsters can get advice on sexual health matters.

Ministers want to increase access to sexual health services in remote and rural areas of the country.

There are already a number of schools where youngsters can get help and advice, along with free condoms and pregnancy tests.

No schools provide youngsters with the morning-after pill emergency contraception, and a government spokeswoman stressed there were no plans to change this.

Lib Dem health spokesman Ross Finnie branded the figures "astonishing" and called for urgent action from ministers.

"These kinds of statistics are evidence that the Scottish Government cannot afford to dither over campaigns to raise awareness of STIs and educate young people about contraceptives," the MSP said.

"I was disappointed that the Scottish Government withdrew contraceptive information from the leaflet that was sent out to promote the cervical cancer vaccination programme.

"Ministers could right that wrong by ensuring that health workers use the vaccination programme to talk to schoolgirls about the risks of unprotected sex."





The full article contains 317 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 08 September 2008 11:58 AM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

joppa jock,

Huntingdon 08/09/2008 12:20:21
It seems that those who first advocated sex education in schools have spawned an out-of-control monster that has ruined the lives of far too many youngsters. The facts of life were one thing, but issuing condoms and helping young girls have abortions without parents knowledge has gone away beyond their original remit.
2

Busymale,

08/09/2008 12:35:14
Too much access to adult websites is driving our kids mad!
3

A Friend of Fernando Poo,

08/09/2008 13:03:28
"The statistics division did not publish figures concerning less than four people"

Perhaps instead they published figures concerning *fewer* than four people?
4

Vincent-W,

08/09/2008 13:35:32
Why do we keep getting peddled this mad idea that using condoms is equal to safe sex?

The reality is that using condoms is reduces the chances of pregnancy and STDs. It does not eradicate the chance. In fact the real figures are quite scary and should be publicized.

Have sex once and condoms reduce the chance of picking up an infection to about 2%.

Have sex 10 times with the same infected person, using condoms and your chance of being infected are 18%.

Have sex 20 times with the same infected person, using condoms and your chance of being infected are 33%.

Have sex 50 times with the same infected person, using condoms and your chance of being infected are 63%.


Have sex 100 times with the same infected person, using condoms and your chance of being infected are 87%.

Alternatively, if you have ‘unprotected’ sex with the one uninfected partner your chances of getting an STD are zero. Even if you have sex 10 times a day for 20 years.

The real message we should be giving out is that:-

1.Abstinence is the only sure fire way of avoiding infection,
2.Faithfulness reduces your chances of STD infections to near negligible levels.
3.If you are going to have sex with multiple partners you are running a high risk of getting infected - even if you use condoms.
5

Vincent-W,

08/09/2008 13:37:40
btw - the effectiveness of condoms drops off very quickly if you consider semi drunken knee tremblers with a complete stranger.
6

Mitchell Inman,

08/09/2008 13:46:24
Vincent-W

I'd be interested to see a source for your "real figures" regarding infection risk. They do seem rather high.
7

Ribbonman,

Glasgow 08/09/2008 13:52:59
Children in Scotland are paying a high price for the negligence of their parents.Its as simple as that.In a world where anything goes,children are allowed to suit themselves at all times,with the normal response from parents being"Aye, they are going to do it anyway,in spite of what we may say" Wrong! what a cop out.What ever happened to Respect, Love,and a thought for the other person. We are no better than the animals in the fields in our attiudes to one another.The time has now come for parents to parent.
8

whitecloud,

08/09/2008 13:56:22
That is scary thing. How can let children know and control what exactly right way?

Families and schools work together?!
9

Vincent-W,

08/09/2008 15:00:30
Mitchell Inman,

www.nhs.uk/Livewell/sexualhealth/Pages/condoms.aspx

They seemed rather high because they were rather high, owing to the fact I made an error in the calculations. The probabilities are based on average sexual activity in a year (so that will be once a month whether you want to or not).

However, the message is still the same – condoms are not 100% effective and year on year your chances of picking up an infection increase.

As far as I’m concerned the danger is that we are giving out the message that condoms are equivalent to safe sex.

Put it like this – if you were a condom using AIDS sufferer, how would you feel at the end of the year if your wife were one of the unlucky 2%ers? “Sorry luv, they said using condoms meant it was safe.”
10

ZipptJeffrey,

castle 08/09/2008 15:15:36
Questions: Where was the majority of these case from? What area and region please? This is in the public interest.
2: What nationality was the recipients of the STD? What percentage where immigrants? Amd what areas in Scotland where they from? Again this is in the public interest.

If the media nad the health boards and NHS colude to hide these neded facts from the public , then the public will assume that the establishment wants STD transmission to INCREASE. Tell the people, or become guilty by association.
11

Anglofile,

08/09/2008 15:15:43
Do you know what your son or daughter is catching tonight?
12

Bemused and above it all,

08/09/2008 16:37:31
look on the bright side it might stop Gary Glitter moving here!
13

Mcsnagpile,

08/09/2008 16:40:45
Bromide in the tea and cold showers three times a day should be compulsory for all STD transmitters.
14

TM,

LA, USA 08/09/2008 17:20:47
Appears there are about 300,000 12-16 year old kids in Scotland and a couple hundred have an STD. Not exactly an epidemic, or a story worth printing really....
15

jett,

aden 08/09/2008 17:43:07
#14 it suggests promiscuity and likely hood that more than children are involved. i have come across stings for children and adult sex crimes in the Edinburgh area. as i was a victim of pedophiles in child care and schools they are easy for me to spot when i come across them. they use the toilets not only public but in shopping centers and large shops. it is best to avoid them when you can and not enter them alone. the pedophiles have adequate protection in this town as they did in peterhead where i got two caught when i was a child. the children can be just as dangerous.
16

jett,

aden 08/09/2008 18:15:53
a lot are relocated or commute to sex offender drop ins in fife such as kirkaldy
17

subrosa,

08/09/2008 18:30:11
# 1

Well said. All these do-gooders who said education would be the be all and end all and would ensure children got sex education if their parents didn't provide it - shame on them.

Also the benefit culture which brings up the children of these juvenile encounters needs rehashing.

Children need to be taught responsibility and parents aren't doing that. Respect is another thing missing today - self respect being the most important.
18

Brodric,

08/09/2008 21:34:41
18 subrosa - well said - parents are teaching them responsibility. Often the contrary.
19

jett,

aden 08/09/2008 21:45:07
i was stalked by two policemen today for grassing on them
20

Charles Linskaill,

Edinburgh 08/09/2008 21:49:55

Yet another of my predictions come reality once more!

I told you all this over a year ago, and the non-believers an ignorant 'mocked-it'

And now with the soo called 'jab' for 13year old girls, this figure will 10fold in the next few years!

You ain't seen NOTHING YET!
21

Dragonhead,

Dalian,China 09/09/2008 05:42:53
Ah! Another of the PhD's plans turns to sh*te. How unusual. #21 Charles Linkskaill (copied faithfully) Absolutely correct dear chap, and remember the oldie but goodie, The difference between Love and Herpes? Herpes is forever.
The family group, education, and common-sense have been destroyed by the liberal-leftie baby boomer generation.
Good old Confucius says it so succinctly: "The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home" Quad Erat Demonstrandum.
22

Dragonhead,

Dalian,China 09/09/2008 05:48:42
Even if you use a totally unrelated rule of thumb,ie with cockroaches (appropriate I think)for every one you see there are at least 12 you don't see.As a peripheral comment.It doesn't actually give the definitive figures, only "hundreds". Now that could be many thousands after all 5,000 is only 50 hundreds! Spin methinks to keep the cap on the real figures which would probably make your eyes water (not warter then?)

 

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