Sold out seminar seeks better sexual health for young people in North Wales

At a seminar in Colwyn Bay today, health and other professionals working across North Wales are being brought together by the sexual health charity FPA to improve the sexual health of young people in the area.

According to recent reports by Public Health Wales, teenage conception rates, although decreasing, are still higher than those in England. In 2009, Wrexham had a rate of 46.9 per thousand young women under 18 becoming pregnant.

Due in part to improved testing programmes, diagnosis of chlamydia has also more than doubled in a decade, but the infection still affects almost a thousand people in North Wales every year alone. In 2009, there were 919 people diagnosed with the STI with the most affected being young men under 25 and young women 16-19 years old.

Jiwsi, an FPA sex and relationships education programme running exclusively in North Wales, is holding an all day seminar in Colwyn Bay today at a sold out venue. The Jiwsi team are showcasing their expertise to selected health professionals, youth workers, teachers, and school nurses among others.

The seminar will highlight chlamydia testing and screening, staying safe online, the impact of pornography on young people’s sexual health and the holistic nature of sexual health.

With guest speakers and workshop sessions, the seminar is exploring new directions in motivating and influencing young people about sexual health.

Mel Gadd, FPA Project Co-ordinator for Jiwsi said:

“Sexual health is a vital issue for young people in North Wales and Jiwsi works across Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynned and in Wrexham to improve it. Teenage pregnancy rates and STI diagnoses are still too high. FPA is championing the idea of improving sexual health for young people. We hope this seminar will encourage everyone working in the field to develop fresh and innovative programmes.”

The Jiwsi seminar takes place at The Interchange in Colwyn Bay, LL29 9YF on 28 September 2011, between 10am – 4pm.

See the Public Health Wales report on HIV and STI trends in Wales (PDF).

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For further information please contact the FPA press office on 020 7608 5265/5264. Mobile 07958 921060.

The sexual health charity FPA champions the importance of good sexual health for everyone. We educate, inform, support and campaign for people across the UK. The Family Planning Association is a registered charity, number 250187.

About the press office.