New report: Sexual Health in Canada: Baseline 2007

Source: Canadian Federation for Sexual Health

This groundbreaking report represents the first ever comprehensive, national portrait of Canadians’ sexual and reproductive health. It was compiled after a thorough review of all relevant data from government and academic sources. It establishes a baseline for policy, planning and further study.

Highlights of report findings:
Trends in Canadians’ sexual and reproductive health vary distinctly by province and territory. For example:
- Youth aged 14-15 in the Maritimes & Quebec are more likely to be sexually active than those in Ontario or the western provinces (...)

Canada is way off track to meet the 2010 national goals for prevention of sexually transmitted infections set by Health Canada in 1996. The goals were to reduce the disease incidence rates. Instead they have steadily risen for all reportable STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis) except HIV. In some cases the most recent disease rates are seven to nine times the level reported in 1996.

Rates of STIs among young people (15 – 24 years) show the most dramatic rise, placing this age group at the highest risk. For example, over two thirds of chlamydia cases occur among youth, although they only represent 14% of the population.
(...)

The full report is available online. A copy will be shortly available in the library.