Promotion of Sexual Health in UK : Assignment

Sexual Health
(To understand the importance of sexual health
promotion in reducing teenage pregnancies and
sexually transmitted diseases in UK)

ABSTRACT
Sexual health promotion is basically concerned with maintaining a person's emotional,
mental and physical well-being so that he/she can perform different activities in day to day life. The
dissertation chapters have discussed various issues related to promotion of sexual health and have
also focussed on the importance of promoting sexual health in UK. First chapter of dissertation is
based on the introductory part which has discussed a brief overview of promotion of sexual health
in UK. Next chapter has systematically reviewed various researches and studies that have been
conducted by different authors. It has helped in completing dissertation in an effective way. Further,
research methodological part have been included which has discussed research philosophy,
inclusion, exclusion criteria, ethical considerations and data extraction strategies that have been
used in the research. The dissertation has been concluded by discussing the results,
recommendations and conclusion.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................3
2. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW.................................................................................................................6
3. METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................................11
3.1 Analysis and justification for Systematic Review (SR)...........................................................11
3.2 SR Protocol..............................................................................................................................11
3.3 Literature Search Strategy........................................................................................................11
3.4 Quality assessment strategies...................................................................................................13
3.5 Positivism philosophy..............................................................................................................14
3.6 Validity and reliability..............................................................................................................14
3.7 Ethical issues............................................................................................................................15
3.8 Data extraction strategy...........................................................................................................15
4. RESULTS ......................................................................................................................................16
5. DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS..................................................20
Discussion......................................................................................................................................20
Recommendations..........................................................................................................................21
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................23
REFERENCES...................................................................................................................................26

1. INTRODUCTION
Promotion of sexual health in UK is necessary because it will help in reducing the risk of
sexually transmitted diseases and teenage pregnancies to a high extent (Eldredge and et.al., 2016).
Sexual health is also associated with broad range of health issues which are very important to be
addressed. Hence, it is necessary to encourage service uptakes in promoting sexual health so that
emotional, mental and physical health of all individuals can be restored. According to survey
conducted by health organisation, it has been stated that UK has maximum number of teenage
pregnancies which has also increased the number of individuals suffering from sexually transmitted
disease. During recent times, high number of gonorrhoea and syphilis are detected specially in
teenagers of UK (Nguyen and et.al, 2013). Apart from teenagers, there are many other people who
are at greater risk of encountering serious sexual health issues such as disabled people, individuals
with learning difficulties, refugees and asylum seekers. For promoting health, it is necessary to
adopt various effective strategies so that health and well-being of people can be improved in a better
way. It is important for all people of UK to have prompt access to different types of sexual health
services that are initiated by the UK government. Promotion of sexual health should not only reduce
teenage pregnancies and risk of sexually transmitted disease but it should also increase awareness
and knowledge about promotion of sexual health in UK (Wight and Fullerton, 2013).
For promoting sexual health in UK, it is essential for the government to adopt certain
strategies that can successfully lead to improved health and welfare of citizens. At initial level, it is
necessary to eliminate narrow sexual health inequalities that exist in the nation. Inequalities in UK
are the result of social exclusion, ethnic background and sexual orientation which is directly linked
to teenage pregnancies. It is also essential to take preventive initiatives so that inequalities can be
reduced. For improving general health and sexual health in citizens of UK, it is necessary to impart
sexual health education to youngsters at school so that their awareness can be increased (McNeely,
Nonnemaker and Blum, 2012). This will help in ensuring that all individuals have equal rights to
access information related to sexual health and its relationships. According to a national survey of
sexual attitude and lifestyle, it was reported that 68% of individuals tend to develop sexual
relationships before the age of 16 years. This data also produced a major difference in sexual health
behaviour in both urban and rural areas of various parts of UK. Apart from other nations in Europe,
UK accounts for the highest rates of teenage pregnancies and conceptions in between the age of 15-
19 years. Teenage pregnancies in UK are more than 72% in 2015 which have increased from 68%
in 2011. UK is not only highest in recording teenage pregnancies but it is also reported to have more
than 8% of under-age pregnancies in between 13-15 years (Onwuegbuzie and Leech, 2015). It is
important to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies because it leads to many other heath issues
to both mother and the child. It is noticed that generally a teenage tends to have poor mental and

physical health which has a negative effect on both the individuals.
Also, the child born from teenage mother is reported to be of low weight which increases
the risk of mortality in early years of birth. One of the major drawbacks of teenage pregnancies is
that, chances of dissolving a relationship after pregnancies increases (Galliers and Land, 2007). This
ultimately affects the future of child. The rates of teenage pregnancies in UK are considerably high
as compared to any other nation due to various reasons. One common reason of increased teenage
pregnancies in UK is low expectations in the field of education and job markets. Due to lack of
proper environment and high levels of crime emerging in UK, teenagers pursue having a child at
early age as a positive sign for continuing a relationship. Another reason is lack of knowledge about
contraception and protection during sex. 25% of teenage individuals who become mothers in their
teen years are initially unaware about contraception which is likely to be used during sexual
activities (Benbasat, 2014). Abortion rate in UK has also consistently increased in the recent years.
The rate was 13 terminations per 1000 women which have risen by 2% in 2011 and 5% after the
implementation of Abortion act UK. In Wales, highest rate of abortion ranges from the age group of
20-24 years and the rate or pregnancy termination from 2010 has increased by 12 % and in 2015, it
has crossed to 15%. Based on a survey report, it was concluded that 78 out of 100 terminations were
performed on single mothers whereas only 20 out of 100 were conducted on married women (Petty,
Thomson and Stew, 2012). 50% of mothers were reported to have no earlier children when they
underwent first termination. However, 18% women underwent second abortion. Apart from teenage
pregnancies, there is an increased risk of people encountering sexually transmitted disease in the
early years of life (Jenkins, 2015). More than 25% of total population of UK is infected with
sexually transmitted diseases at the age of less than 25 years. It is not only an issue with youngsters
but it is also common in older men and women at the same rate. Different types of sexually
transmitted diseases in UK are chlamydia, genital wart virus, genital herpes, gonorrhoea and AIDS.
Hence, it is necessary to adopt effective strategies that can help in lowering down the number of
teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted disease to minimum.
Aim:
To understand the importance of sexual health promotion for reducing teenage pregnancies
and sexually transmitted diseases in UK
Objectives:
 To understand the concept of sexual health promotion.
 To determine the major role of sexual health promotion for reducing teenage pregnancies in
UK.
 To critically analyse the role of sexual health promotion for reducing sexually transmitted

diseases in UK. To suggest different methods to promote sexual health among teenagers in UK.
Research Question
PICO framework will be used to design research question for the ongoing study. It helps in
formulating and answering questions in the desired manner.
 P: Patients (Teenage individuals)
 I: Intervention (Sexual health promotion)
 C: Comparison (None)
 O: Outcome (Reduction in teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted disease)
1. Why it is important to promote sexual health among teenagers in UK?