Rise in STD cases viewed as 'triumph' in health strategy

MORE than seven children a month in the Lothians are diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

The 86 under 16-year-olds who tested positive for chlamydia last year indicate a steady rise in infection rates.

It has prompted concerns both about increasing promiscuous behaviour among youngsters, and the effectiveness of sexual health education in Scottish schools. A parliamentary question from Lothians MSP Gavin Brown led to the release of the figures from the Scottish Government, which showed there were 62 cases in 2007 and 69 in 2008.

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There were also instances of other sexually-transmitted diseases, such as genital herpes and gonorrhoea, but Holyrood would not release the number for fear of individuals being identified.

NHS Lothian, which this week launched a new sexual health strategy, said the rise could be simply down to a higher detection rate rather than more individual cases.

Dona Milne, specialist in public health for NHS Lothian, said: "We know that young people under the age of 20 are most at risk of contracting chlamydia. Improved access to sexual health information and testing has proven effective in increasing the number of young people being tested.

"Specialist sexual health services, GPs and drop-in services have helped to increase the number of cases diagnosed year on year."

But the under-16s are not the only age group experiencing higher levels of STDs. With over-40s increasingly finding themselves on the singles market, in a society that is more open-minded, rates of infection have increased massively.

It is something the health board hopes a new, specially-designed sexual health centre in Lauriston will address when it opens next year. Health chiefs themselves see a rise in positive cases as something of a triumph for testing awareness, as it means fewer people will be living with STDs but unaware, posing risk of further infection to others.

The Catholic Church in Scotland has been among the critics of Scottish health boards, saying such statistics show safe-sex strategies have "failed" in schools, and a more traditional and conservative approach should be considered.

The Conservative's health spokeswoman in Edinburgh, Councillor Kate MacKenzie said: "There is certainly more promiscuity among young people today, and both schools and parents need to play a part in educating them.

"Parents should be able to talk to their children about sexual health issues, however uncomfortable it may seem."