Sexual Health
Sexual health is an important part of physical and mental health, emotional and social well-being. It’s important to take care of your sexual health and, if you have children, evidence shows that it’s good to talk about sex and relationships.
Both men and women need to look after their sexual health and take time to understand the issues that surround contraception and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) often conflicting attitudes, misinformation, ignorance and at times intolerance prevent both men and women from taking care of their sexual health.
For instance there are some STIs, like chlamydia, that you could be carrying without having any symptoms. This infection can affect fertility, so it’s important to make use of sexual health information, advice and services.
You can talk to your doctor or nurse at your GP surgery or family planning clinic. Surgeries often hold family planning sessions or clinics for young people – both are aimed at creating an atmosphere where people can talk openly about sex and relationship issues.
Talking about sex with your children
It’s important that parents and carers have the skills and knowledge to talk to their children as good parent/child communication about sexual health issues can help delay first sexual experience and limit poor sexual health outcomes.
The best way to start talking about sex is to:
- start when your child is small, encouraging them to ask questions – and answer them simply
- make talking about sex a part of everyday life, not just a one-off chat, and keep the conversation going as they get older
- try to introduce the topic before your child reaches puberty – waiting until then can make it awkward
- ask your child what they think about different situations to find out how much they know already – you can then give them answers and advice that they can understand
- use everyday media to start conversations (soaps, adverts, TV programmes, magazines) – as it is sometimes easier to start by talking about other people
- use books, leaflets and websites (including those listed on this page) if you need information or ideas on how to start talking
- recognise that, as your child grows, they need privacy and may not always want to talk to you
- talk about the importance of considering the feelings of others in relationships, not just the biology
- try to be open-minded and keep talking, even if you are shocked by your teenager’s attitudes and values
- talk to other parents about how they answer difficult questions and discuss difficult issues
In Northern Ireland there is growing concern about the sexual health of young people. As risk-related sexual behaviour begins in adolescence, those who engage earlier are thought to be at greater risk of unprotected sex, unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Again, problems such as poor sexual health are only exacerbated within areas of severe social deprivation, such as the South Belfast Highway to Health target areas. There is not enough research to fully understand to how much greater the proplem of poor sexual health is within the target areas, but when we look at the table below it can be assumed with confidence it is a significant one.
| Comparisons | WARD | LGD | AA | N.IRELAND |
| Shaftesbury | Belfast | Belfast South | N.I | |
| Administrative Data | ||||
| Total births (2008) | 92 | 3883 | 1166 | 25631 |
| Male births (2008) | 51 | 2017 | 610 | 13204 |
| Female births (2008) | 41 | 1866 | 556 | 12427 |
| Births to unmarried mothers (%) (2008) | 78.3 | 56.9 | 38.3 | 38.9 |
| Median age of mothers of new-born babies (2008) | 24.0 | 28.0 | 31.0 | 29.0 |
| Median age of fathers of new-born babies (2008) | 28.0 | 31.0 | 33.0 | 32.0 |
| Comparisons | WARD | LGD | AA | N.IRELAND |
| Botanic | Belfast | Belfast South | N.I | |
| Administrative Data | ||||
| Total births (2008) | 67 | 3883 | 1166 | 25631 |
| Male births (2008) | 30 | 2017 | 610 | 13204 |
| Female births (2008) | 37 | 1866 | 556 | 12427 |
| Births to unmarried mothers (%) (2008) | 55.2 | 56.9 | 38.3 | 38.9 |
| Median age of mothers of new-born babies (2008) | 26.0 | 28.0 | 31.0 | 29.0 |
| Median age of fathers of new-born babies (2008) | 28.0 | 31.0 | 33.0 | 32.0 |
| Comparisons | WARD | LGD | AA | N.IRELAND |
| Blackstaff | Belfast | Belfast South | N.I | |
| Administrative Data | ||||
| Total births (2008) | 70 | 3883 | 1166 | 25631 |
| Male births (2008) | 38 | 2017 | 610 | 13204 |
| Female births (2008) | 32 | 1866 | 556 | 12427 |
| Births to unmarried mothers (%) (2008) | 71.4 | 56.9 | 38.3 | 38.9 |
| Median age of mothers of new-born babies (2008) | 25.0 | 28.0 | 31.0 | 29.0 |
| Median age of fathers of new-born babies (2008) | 29.0 | 31.0 | 33.0 | 32.0 |
Below are links to census information on each of South Belfast Highway to Health’s target areas
- Lower Ormeau (Botanic Ward SOA 5) click here
- Sandy Row (Shaftsbury Ward SOA 2) click here
- Donegall Pass (Shaftsbury Ward SOA 2) click here
- The Markets (Shaftsbury Ward SOA 1) click here
- The Village (Blackstaff Ward) click here
Useful websites
Gum Clinics NI
www.brook.org.uk
www.cara-friend.org.uk
www.nhs.uk/worthtalkingabout
www.rainbow-project.org
www.dhsspsni.gov.uk
www.fpa.org.uk
