<\/p>\n
Press release<\/p>\n
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Youth condom use rate is deteriorating<\/p>\n
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AIDS Concern advocates strengthening sex education for youth<\/p>\n
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AIDS Concern summarize the data from AIDS Concern on the use of condoms and contraceptive methods of the youth in the past five years (2013-2018) and the data on the infection rate of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among youth in the past four years (2014-2018) to understand the sexual behavior patterns and reasons among heterosexual sexually active youth aged 14-25 in Hong Kong.<\/p>\n
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Data on youth condom use rate and contraceptive methods in 2013-2018<\/p>\n
The total 3,013 respondents, who had received the AIDS Concern sexual health check and conducted more than one sexual behavior within the past six months. Among them, 24% of the respondents did not use condoms in the first sex, and 5% of the respondents mentioned that their condoms broke or were taken off during sex. The survey also found that the condoms use rate of the respondents having sex with \u201cRegular sex partners\u201d or \u201cBoy\/girlfriends\u201d was less than 50% in the past five years. In 2018, it dropped to less than 30%.<\/p>\n
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According to the survey, there are three main reasons for the respondents of not using condoms. The key reason is related to \u201cIntimate relationship\u201d. 30% of respondents said that \u201cPartners asked them for not using condoms\u201d (15%), \u201cPreventing from affecting the mood\u201d (6%), \u201cembarrassed\u201d (5%), \u201cAdvoiding to do harm to the relationship\u201d (4%). And some reasons are related to \u201cLack of Sexual health knowledge\u201d, such as \u201clack of the awareness of self-protection\u201d (6%) and \u201cPerceived low risk of STIs infection \/pregnancy\u201d (13%). Other reasons of not using condom include \u201cno condoms available\u201d (14%) and \u201cusing other contraceptive methods\u201d (6%).<\/p>\n
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In terms of contraceptive knowledge, only 45% of the respondents showed that they have correct knowledge on the contraceptive methods, including \u201ccondoms\u201d and \u201ccontraceptive pills\u201d. Although \u201cCoitus interruptus\u201d is a wrong method of contraception, it has become the second popular method of contraception among the respondents in the past five years. It reflects that knowledge level on sexual health among youth is low and this situation is worrying.<\/p>\n
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Sexually transmitted infection rate among youth in 2014-2018<\/p>\n
In the past five years (Table 1), total 1869 (1179 male \/ 690 female) youngsters have received AIDS Concern\u2019s urine test service. The survey found that the average rate of STIs (chlamydia and gonorrhea) infection among the service users in AIDS Concern in the past five years is 8.6%. The average infection of STIs among young women is 15.1%, which is much higher than the TeSSHS\u2019s result by the University of Hong Kong which is 4.9%.<\/p>\n
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Moreover, the number of young women tested occupied less than half of the total number of testing users in the previous years. In response to the high STI infection rate of the young women, AIDS Concern kicked off series of programs to motivate the young women to do testing. \u201cThe establishment of a healthy and friendly environment and the reduction of the stigma associated with sex can enhance the motivation of young people to undergo testing. Most important, the testing can help them to understand their physical condition and receive treatment as soon as possible.\u201d Ms. Bau Chung, Assistant Project Manager, Youth team of AIDS Concern said.<\/p>\n
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\u201cSince the survey result reflects the lack of knowledge on sex among that youth induce to the low condom use rate among the youth. AIDS Concern believes that comprehensive sexual education is the long-term solution to reduce the risk of STIs infection.\u201d Ms. Mandy Cheung, Program Director of AIDS Concern concluded.<\/p>\n
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Mr. Jim Hoe, Manager of Advocacy and community research of AIDS Concern made a comment that the importance of sex education is being underestimated. Young people cannot acquire knowledge on sex in the classrooms, and then they search the answers via online platform while the answer is not accurate indeed. \u201cSex education should be implemented as an independent subject. The Hong Kong government should refer to the experience of China and foreign countries on sex education. The content of sex education should be standardized the teaching hours and content of sexuality education. Moreover, regular training on sexuality education training for teachers and social workers should be provided.\u201d He suggested.<\/p>\n
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Table 1: Number of youth having urine tests for STIs in 2014-2018 (by gender)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
| Years<\/td>\n | Young Men<\/td>\n | Young Women<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| 2014\/15<\/td>\n | 157<\/td>\n | 128<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| 2015\/16<\/td>\n | 463<\/td>\n | 173<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| 2016\/17<\/td>\n | 480<\/td>\n | 135<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| 2017\/18<\/td>\n | 79<\/td>\n | 254<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Total number if testing users<\/td>\n | 1,179<\/td>\n | 690<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n <\/p>\n *Female infection rate among Hong Kong youth (18-26 years old) with sexual life in the past 12 months.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For enquiry, please contact Ms. Tobey Tse (Marketing and Communications Officer)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tel: 2864 1315\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Email: tobey.tse@aidsconcern.org.hk<mailto:tobey.tse@aidsconcern.org.hk<\/a>><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n |