MEDIA RELEASE    Media embargo – 6 October 2010
HEAD: Student sex still not safe (228 words)
More school students are having sex, but fewer of them are having safe sex.
While there has been a clear increase in sexual activity in the past ten years, the levels of safe sex practised by school students has not increased in Australia since 1997.
This is the finding from a study published in the October issue of Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.
In Australia, rates of teenage pregnancy are among the highest in the developed world, and sexually transmitted infections among young adults has risen considerably in the past 10 years.
Paul Agius and colleagues from La Trobe University surveyed Australian secondary students aged 13 to 18 years between 1997 and 2008.
“Rates of alcohol consumption among secondary students have increased markedly, as has the proportion of young people engaging in sex while under the influence of alcohol and drugs” said Mr Agius.
“We also found that there is a marked increase in year 12 students having sex with multiple partners.
 “It is concerning that students appear to be better informed about HIV than either STIs or hepatitis, which are more common.
“Also, young women have a higher level of knowledge about HIV, STIs and hepatitis than young men, which points to the need for gender-specific sexual health education.
 “This may be symptomatic of a broader cultural change in adolescent sexuality and identity.” 
ENDS
For more information about this research, contact the Principal Investigator for the study: Professor Anthony Smith, Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University. Phone: 03 9285 5304; e-mail: anthony.smith@latrobe.edu.au
MEDIA ONLY: To receive a PDF of the paper or for more information about ANZJPH, contact: Peta Neilson ANZJPH Administration Ph: (03) 9329 3535 E-mail: anzjph@substitution.com.au
The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health is published by the Public Health Association of Australia. Information on the Association and the Journal can be found at http://www.phaa.net.au