Promoting Sexual Health: The Public Health Challenge

Meeting the Challenge: A Public Health Imperative  42 million living with HIV/AIDS  340 million new cases of STI’s per year  Major cause of infertility is STI/RTI infection  15 million women under 20 give birth per year; many unintended.  Unsafe abortion leads to a myriad of health consequences  8-33% of the adult population with some kind of sexual dysfunction  20-50% of women have suffered physical violence from partners.  12 and 25% of women have experienced forced sex during their lives.  Untold numbers of violence against sexual minorities  Child sexual abuse affects 10-25% of women; 3-13% of men. What is common to these different domains? Sexual behavior Context of sexual relationship Interrelationship of physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health Structural Factors Poverty Racism A culture uncomfortable talking about sex except in joking – especially about homosexuality Lack of sexuality education Heterosexism and Homophobia  Failure to recognize that most infections occur between men who have sex with men – and lack