Sexual Health Around the World
Sexual health was first addressed, albeit tentatively, by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1975, as "a state of physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction, or infirmity. Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination, and violence."To get more news about vigrx oil, you can visit vigrxplus-original.com official website.
Sexual health involves understanding what sexual behavior entails, in terms of the risks, benefits, and responsibilities, as well as recognizing that human beings can have rewarding sexual relationships. It is affected by a range of cultural and demographic constructs, including health policies and practices.
Thinking and talking about sex
Attitudes towards what constitutes sexual health vary considerably the world over. At one extreme are those who define sexual pleasure as part of human freedom, which includes different types of sexual experience, while on the other are those who deny sexual pleasure to women.
Among the former, contraception is necessarily an essential facet. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) estimated, in 2021, that only a third of young people worldwide were aware of how to prevent the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Similarly, the knowledge of contraception is low in many regions.
In China, just over half of university students reported having ever received sex education. However, a new law that mandates this field of education is due to come into force in June 2021.
In India, many states did not permit sex education, but again, the government has enacted a national sex education program from 2018 onwards, covering sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This may reduce the rates of underage marriages and unexpected pregnancies, encouraging more children to complete their schooling.
The same is true for Uganda, with its 2018 sex education policy. In the US, about 60% and 43% of male and female adolescents in the USA said they were never told about contraception before their first sexual experience.
Similarly, up to 80% of young American women were never taught how to decline sex, and up to 70% said they were never trained to do so before their first sexual experience. Just over a quarter had learned how to say no, but not learned about birth control. Interestingly, almost 90% knew the facts about STIs and HIV.
Sexually transmitted infections
Having multiple sexual partners and unprotected sex is reflected in the development of over a million STIs, mostly asymptomatic, per day worldwide. Over 370 million new STIs occur each year caused by chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea cause a major share of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility, and ectopic pregnancy. Over 500 million genital infections with type 1 herpes simplex virus (HSV1) are reported yearly. Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes over 570,000 cervical cancers per year and over 300,000 deaths. And hepatitis B caused fatal cirrhosis or cancer, leading to 800,000 deaths in 2019.
Syphilis is linked to a million infections during pregnancy, with over 350,000 adverse outcomes, including 200,000 stillbirths and neonatal deaths.
STIs cause infertility, cancers, pregnancy losses or complications, and a higher risk of HIV. Many of these pathogens are developing resistance to antimicrobials.
STIs are a source of shame and ostracism. Screening for STIs is often limited, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). People who seek such services may have to pay from their own pockets. These hindrances are greater for sexual minorities with many partners and high rates of STIs.
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