David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 251: To ask the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 302 of 2 April 2008 if the three sub-reports from the Irish Study of Sexual Health and Relationships which was compromised by her Department and the Crisis Pregnancy Agency have been published; if so the main findings and the actions she will take as a result; the numbers of new cases of HIV reported in 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41658/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The following three sub-reports of the Irish Study of Sexual Health and Relationships were published on the 11 April 2008:

1. Sub Report One: Learning about sex and first sexual experiences;

2. Sub Report Two: Sexual health challenges and related service provision;

3. Sub Report Three: Sexual knowledge, attitudes and behaviours-a further analysis.

The reports provide a very detailed analysis of the research data, including the following findings:

Nearly one third of men and a fifth of women, aged 18 to 24, had sex before they were 17: these young people were more likely to report that they regretted this decision when compared to those who waited until they were older.

Men and women who may have left school early were more likely to experience first sex before age 17. Men with secondary-level qualifications are three times more likely than those with a third-level qualification to report experience of first sex before age 17.

There were no differences in use of alcohol or drugs between those who had sex before 17 and those who had sex after 17.

Those who had sex before 17 were approximately half as likely to use contraception at first sex, compared to those waited until they were older.

The findings of the reports have been used to inform policy development and service delivery within the Department of Health and Children, the Health Service Executive and the Crisis Pregnancy Agency, as follows:

In June of this year the Department of Health and Children and the Education and Prevention Sub-Committee of the National Aids Strategy Committee published a HIV and AIDS Education and Prevention Plan for the period 2008-2012.

The Crisis Pregnancy Agency is currently devising a campaign targeting young people with a central theme of delaying first sex. This campaign will build on the extensive work programme of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency in this area and will be launched in 2009.

Finally, 362 new HIV infections were diagnosed during 2007 and reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.