Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Youth in Canada

This report analyzes the sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among the youth in Canada and proposes interventions for prevention. It also discusses the Canadian policy and prevention framework for STIs.

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Introduction
According to Statistics Canada (2018) there are 9 million youth across the country
who are aged between 15 to 34 years. Of them 23% consists of youth between 15 to 19 years,
25% of 20 to 24 years, 26% of 25 to 29 years and 26% of 20 to 34 years ( Statistics Canada
2018). The following report aims to analyse the sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among
the youth in Canada. This will be followed by Canadian policy and prevention framework for
the effective prevention of STIs among the youth. At the end the report will propose
interventions for the bringing positive changes in prevention of STIs.
Youths in Canada
Youth represents one-quarters of the country's population. During the tenure of 2006
to 2016, the numbers of youth who are aged between 25 to 34 years have increases and youth
between 15 to 19 years have decreased. Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary in Canada contain
majority minority group youth. The senses data also reports that about 4 to 10% of the
Canadian youth considers themselves to be either bi-sexual or homosexual and the percentage
is higher within women (Statistics Canada 2018).
Significant health issues affecting population group
Canadian Centre of Substance Use and Addiction (2019) highlighted that Canadian
youth between the age group of 15 to 24 years are the victims of substance abuse. The United
Nations Children’s Fund Office of Research in 2013 revealed that Canadian youth accounts
for highest rate of Cannabis addiction. Thus, the youth of Canada is under health turmoil
influenced by modifiable risk factors. Apart from substance abuse, the youths of Canada are
also the victims of obesity and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Sexually Transmitted Disease among the Youth: Most significant health Issue
The homo-sexuality or bisexuality along with increased tendency of substance abuse
leads to high incidence of sexually transmitted disease (STD) (Choudhri et al. 2018). The
report published by Statistics Canada (2014) highlighted that Chlamydia, caused by the
bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is the frequently reported STD among the Canadian youth.
Chlamydia if left untreated can lead to the development of reactive arthritis in both the sexes
along with infertility, chronic pelvic pain, inflammatory pelvic disease and ectopic pregnancy
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in females and epididymo-orchitis in males. According to the Canadian Health Measures
Survey conducted during 2009 to 2011, the overall prevalence of chlamydial infection in the
urine of the young Canadian is high. However, none of the respondents reported for being
diagnosed with an STD. Choudhri et al. (2018) reported that reported cases of Chlamydia has
increased across Canada further during the tenure of 2010 to 2015. Quebec reports highest
incidence of Chlamydial infection among the youth. The infection rate are higher in females
than males as females are more susceptible tin the development of the disease lack of proper
access of the healthcare is another reason behind high Chlamydia infection among Canadian
youth (female).
Apart from Chlamydia, Gonorrhea is the next reported sexually transmitted illness
(STI) among the Canadian youth. between 2005 to 2014, the reported cases of gonorrhea has
increased by 61.2% from 28.4 to 45.8 per 100,000. The rates are higher in males in
comparison to females. The vulnerable age group of gonorrhea infection is males between 20
to 29 years and female between 15 to 24 years. Syphillis occurrence has also increased
among the Canadian youth with percentage recording 95.1% during the tenure of 2005 to
2014, from 3.4 to 6.6 per 100,000 (Government of Canada 2014). Choudhri et al. (2018)
reported that Neisseria gonorrhoeae leads to the development of gonorrhea is the second
most reported STI in Canada after Chlamydia. The disease is asymptomatic in females and
symptomatic in males. The symptoms include painful urination, vaginal discharge, and
swollen testicles. Gonorrhea also increases the infectiousness along with susceptibility
towards HIV in the genital tract.
Figure: STI of Canadian
(Source: Government of Canada 2014)
Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (2019) reported that 2,165 people are newly
infected with HIV in Canada per year 10 out of six individuals are young adults and are
newly infected with HIV each day. It is estimated that one person is infected with HIV in
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Canada after every one hour. The increase rate of HIV among the Canadian youth is decrease
utilization of healthcare resources. Kaida et al. (2015) reported that approximately half of the
women living with HIV (WLWH) are sexually inactive. The association sexual
dissatisfaction and high HIV associated stigma highlights that WLWH experience challenges
in navigating healthy and satisfying sexual lives. These challenges affect their healthcare
utilization leading to uncontrolled outbreak of HIV.
Healthcare policy of Canada for STI
The Public Health Agency of Canada has established Sexual Health and Sexually
Transmitted Infectious Section that works with provinces and governmental organizations
and the associated healthcare providers for improving and maintaining the overall sexual
health of Canadian population. It also helps to ensure sexual well-being of the Canadian
youth by preventing and controlling SDI and the associated complications. The Sexual Health
and Sexually Transmitted Infectious Section have separate Pan Canadian Sexually
Transmitted and Blood Borne Infectious Framework for Action that prevents the transmission
of the blood borne sexually transmitted disease like HIV. The framework mainly undertakes a
holistic approach for comprehensive prevention of STI. The target population includes
indigenous people, gay and bisexual men, transgender persons, people with HIV or hepatitis
and HBV and HCV and other people who are engaged in purchase of sex or sale
(Government of Canada 2018).
The main social determinants of health covered by this framework include education,
income, employment, gender norms, culture, homeless, unstable housing and lack of proper
access to the healthcare service. It has already been highlighted before that the lack of proper
access of healthcare is the reason behind increased outbreak of STI in young adults in
Canada. Chesson, Mayaud and Aral (2017) reported that effective control of the STIs among
the Canadian youth with help to increase the employment status of the country and at the
same time would help to reduce the economic burden.
Organisations for prevention of STIs
Canadian Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (CANAC)
(http://canac.org/)
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The CANAC is a nursing organization at national level. It is committed towards
fostering excellence in HIV/AIDS prevention and control and health promotion by
implementing exhaustive nursing interventions. It also maintains dignity of persons affected
by HIV/AIDS while respecting his or her privacy and confidentiality.
Canadian Paediatric Society
(https://www.cps.ca/en/documents/position/HPV)
The society works for protecting children and adolescents from the STI of HPV
(human pappiloma virus). The organisation mainly works by giving HPV vaccination among
the vulnerable group of population. The vulnerable population include hetero-sexual males
between the age group of 14 to 25 years. It also covers the young parents by giving them
proper education so that they might plan the pregnancy properly in order to prevent the
spread of STIs among the new born.
Recommendations for Further Improvement
Community Based Approach
Healey (2016) stated that youth of Canada have articulated that lack of community-
led participatory research is the main reason behind optimal control of the STI in Canadian
youth. Thus, first recommendation for effective control of the STIs among Canadian Youth
will be proper community based approach. Community-based disease STIs must start with
establishment of Community Based Advisory Group for identifying at-risk people followed
by community based need assessment, subsequent implementation of the health policy
(Centre of Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] 2014).
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Figure: Community Based Health Prevention Model
(Source: CDC 2014)
Disease Education and Awareness
According to Choudhri et al. (2018), there is a lack of proper awareness of the STIs
among the Canadian youth. Thus in order to promote comprehensive prevention of STIs
among Canadian youth, proper disease education is important. Disease education will be
directed towards prevention of oral sex in order to prevent the spread of human papilloma
virus (HPV) infection, use of condoms and avoiding sex with multiple partners. The disease
education can be given in colleges, high schools and through social media advertisements
(World Health Organisation 2019).
Free supply of Condoms
Canada lacks free supply of Condoms in public bathrooms or in the out-patient
department of the hospitals. O’Reilly et al. (2014) highlighted that subsidised supply of
condoms under proper governmental funding can be prove to be effective in the prevention of
the rapid spread of the STIs like HIV. The government of Canada can come forward with
proper funding for the Condom vending systems in the region infiltrated with ethnic minority
people in order to prevent STIs.
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Conclusion
Thus from the above discussion it can be concluded that the main health threat among
the youths in Canada is STIs. The lack of proper awareness about the STIs, prevalence of
homosextuality and increased rate of substance abuse are the main concerns behind the high
reported cases of STIs among Canadian youth. The popular STIs include HIV AIDS,
Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Syphillis. The Public Health Agency of Canada has established
Sexual Health and Sexually Transmitted Infectious Section that provides framework for the
prevention of STIs among Canadian population. The two of the notable organisations
working for the prevention of STIs include Canadian Paediatric Society and Canadian
Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (CANAC). However, further research is required to be
undertaken in the domain of community based interventions, health education and supply of
subsidised condoms for the effective prevention of infection.
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References
Canadian Centre of Substance Use and Addiction. 2019. Children and Youth. Access date:
15th April 2019. Retrieved from:
http://www.ccdus.ca/Eng/topics/Children-and-Youth/Pages/default.aspx
Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research. 2019. HIV and AIDS in Canada. Access date: 15th
April 2019. Retrieved from: https://canfar.com/hiv-and-aids/hiv-and-aids-in-canada/
Centre of Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] 2014. Community Approaches to Reducing
STDs. Access date: 15th April 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/std/health-
disparities/CARS_Phase1_Final_Evaluation_Report.pdf
Chesson, H.W., Mayaud, P. and Aral, S.O., 2017. Sexually Transmitted Infections: Impact
and Cost-Effectiveness of Prevention. Disease Control Priorities.
Choudhri, Y., Miller, J., Sandhu, J., Leon, A. and Aho, J., 2018. Sexually transmitted
infections: Chlamydia in Canada, 2010–2015. Canada Communicable Disease Report, 44(2),
p.49.
Government of Canada. 2014. Report on Sexually Transmitted Infections in Canada: 2013-
2014. Access date: 15th April 2019. Retrieved from:
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/report-
sexually-transmitted-infections-canada-2013-14.html
Government of Canada. 2018. Reducing the health impact of sexually transmitted and blood-
borne infections in Canada by 2030: A pan-Canadian STBBI framework for action. Access
date: 15th April 2019. Retrieved from:
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Healey, G., 2016. Youth perspectives on sexually transmitted infections and sexual health in
Northern Canada and implications for public health practice. International journal of
circumpolar health, 75(1), p.30706.
Kaida, A., Carter, A., de Pokomandy, A., Patterson, S., Proulx‐Boucher, K., Nohpal, A.,
Sereda, P., Colley, G., O'Brien, N., Thomas‐Pavanel, J. and Beaver, K., 2015. Sexual
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inactivity and sexual satisfaction among women living with HIV in Canada in the context of
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O’Reilly, K.R., Fonner, V.A., Kennedy, C.E. and Sweat, M.D., 2014. Free condom
distribution: what we don’t know may hurt us. AIDS and Behavior, 18(11), pp.2169-2171.
Statistics Canada. 2014. Canadian Health Measures Survey. Access date: 15th April 2019.
Retrieved from: https://www.statcan.gc.ca/eng/survey/household/5071
Statistics Canada. 2018. A portrait of Canadian youth. Access date: 15th April 2019.
Retrieved from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-631-x/11-631-x2018001-eng.htm
World Health Organisation. 2019. Sexually transmitted and other reproductive tract
infection. Access date: 15th April 2019. Retrieved from:
http://hetv.org/resources/reproductive-health/rtis_gep/healtheducation.htm
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