This document provides 10 tips for parents to talk to their children about sex and sexuality, including starting early, initiating conversations, communicating values, creating an open environment, listening, being honest, being patient, using everyday opportunities to talk, and discussing it repeatedly. It emphasizes starting conversations by age 11-12, taking initiative to discuss topics like relationships and puberty, talking about responsibilities and consequences, and promoting abstinence. Creating an open and honest dialogue can help children make healthier decisions and feel comfortable coming to their parents with questions. STDs are highly prevalent among adolescents due to biological, behavioral, environmental and cultural factors.

1. Sex, STDs and Adolescence

2. 10 Tips for Talking With Your Kids About SEX 1. Start early. 2. Initiate conversations with your child. 3. ...Even about sex and sexuality. 4. Communicate your own values. 5. Create and open environment. 6. Listen to your child. 7. Try to be honest. 8. Be patient. 9. Use everyday opportunities to Talk. 10. Talk about it again. And, again.

3. Start early Parents are encouraged to begin speaking to their children about sex at 11-12 years of age. Teaching your children about sex should begin as _____ as possible early Being aware of their bodies and sex from an early age will mean that your child will understand right from wrong.

4. Take initiative If your child hasn't started asking questions about sex, look for a good opportunity to bring it up. For instance, if someone in a movie is taking about sex ask your child what they’ve heard about sex. Many children hear stories about sex at the playground, in movies, TV programes and elseware in the media - this information may not be accurate, or what you want them to hear. ___ need to educate them so they know the facts. You

5. Talk about more than the "Birds and the Bees" Discuss the emotional aspect of a sexual relationship and the responsibilities and consequences of sexual activity. Remind them that ___________ is 100% effective. Conversations with 11 to 14 year-olds, for example, should include talks about dating, love, peer pressure, unwanted pregnancy, diseases associated with sex and how they can protect themselves. Abstinence

6. Young people are ____ likely to take sexual risks if they have: a positive view of sexuality information that they need to take care of their sexual health clarity about their own values and an understanding of their families’ values self-esteem and self-confidence interpersonal skills, such as assertiveness and decision-making abilities a sense that their actions affect what happens a connection to home, family, and other caring adults in their community, school, or religious institution Nursing responsibilities encompass all aspects of sex and sexually transmissible disease; education should include information on disease, it’s process and treatment along with dispelling myths associated with their mode of transport. Communicate less

7. Create an open environment Studies show that kids who feel they can talk with their parents about sex (because their moms and dads speak openly and listen carefully to them) are less likely to engage in high-risk behavior as teens than kids who do not feel they can talk with their parents about the subject. Explore your own feelings about sex. If you are uncomfortable with the subject, do research or discuss your feelings with a friend, relative, physician, or clergy member. The more you examine the subject, the more _________you'll feel discussing it. If you can't quite overcome your discomfort, don't worry about admitting it to your kids. It's okay to say something like, "You know, I'm uncomfortable talking about sex but I want us to be able to talk about anything (including sex) so please come to me if you have any questions. And if I don't know the answer, We’ll find out." confident

8. Create an open environment Some parents feel uncomfortable talking with their child about topics like sex if their child is of the opposite gender. While that's certainly understandable, don't let it become an excuse to close off conversation. If you're a single mother of a son, for example, you can turn to books or the internet to help guide you or ask your ________ for advice on how to bring up the topic. You could also ask an uncle or other close male friend or relative to discuss the subject with your child, provided there is already good, open communication between them. If there are two parents in the household, it might feel less awkward to have the dad talk with the boy and the mom with the girl. The key is to make sure that gender differences don't make subjects like sex taboo. doctor

9. Listen & be honest Listen to what your child has to say about their opinion of sex, don’t judge or punish honesty. If your child has questions, ________them with honest answers, if you don’t know the answer, find it together. Tell you child how you feel about sex, include your families religious or cultural views on the subject and provide reasoning for these beliefs. provide

10. HIV/STD prevention education should be developed with the ______ involvement of parents, be locally determined, and consistent with community values. It should address the needs of adolescents who are both sexually active and not sexually active, while ensuring that all youth are provided with effective education to protect themselves and others from HIV/STD infection now and throughout their life. active

11. Statistics In 2007, 48% of high school students have had sexual intercourse, and 15% of high school students had had four or more sex partners during their life. In 2007, 39% of currently sexually active high school students did not use a condom during last sexual intercourse. Each year, there are approximately 19 million new STD infections, and almost ____ of them are among youth aged 15 to 24. half

12. Reasons for adolescents morbidity Compared to older adults, sexually-active adolescents 15 to 19 years of age are at higher risk for acquiring STDs for a combination of __________, ____________, and __________ reasons. behavioral environmental cultural The ______ prevalence of STDs among adolescents reflects multiple barriers to accessing STD prevention. Current barriers are: concerns about confidentiality lack of knowledge discomfort in asking questions Parents never taught/ brought it up higher

13. Behavioral and Environmental reasons for adolescents morbidity Biological: Sexually active adolescence are at and increased risk of contracting STDs because their immune and reproductive systems are _________. (Wong’s Essentials of Pediatric Nursing, 6 th ed) Environmental: Conditions such as poverty, homelessness, and dislocation, are increasingly common among young people and are associated with sexual abuse and sex in exchanged for money to support basic needs. Environmental: Reproductive health service providers may not offer services to adolescent clients and some states have laws prohibiting minors access to “reproductive” services without parental consent. immature

14. Cultural reasons for adolescents morbidity Cultural: Adolescents, especially young girls, are less likely to refuse sex and/or less likely to insist on adequate protection because they fear dissolution of the relationship or face social ridicule. Cultural: In some countries, sexual activity begins in early adolescence, either within or outside of marriage. Young age at first intercourse is a strong risk factor for STDs due to increased number of partners over a lifetime.

15. Prevalence of STD in the adolescent population Worldwide, the highest reported rates of STDs are found among young people aged 15-19 and 20-24. 1 in four teenage American girls has a sexually transmitted disease. About one-half of all human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections occur among men and women 24 and younger.

16. Common STDs Adolescents represent a large proportion, 1/3 of overall __________infections worldwide. Chlamydia in the USA for 15- to 19-year-old women in 2007 = 3,005 per 100,000. Chlamydia in the USA for 15- to 19-year-old men in 2007 = 615 per 100,000. Gonorrhea in the USA for 15- to 19-year-old women in 2007 = 648 per 100,000. Gonorrhea in the USA for 15- to 19-year-old men in 2007 = 286 per 100,000. Chlamydia

17. HIV/AIDS In 2006, an estimated 5,259 young people aged 13-24 in 33 states reporting to CDC that they were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, That represents about 14% of all persons diagnosed that year alone.

18. Teaching Primary prevention efforts should be aimed at prevention of STDs and pregnancy. Encourage abstinence and post-poning sexual involvement Encourage condom use, demonstrate proper application and removal Vaccines (Hep B & HPV) and regular sexual health check ups (pap smears, culture and external genital exams.)

19. ___________from sex is the only 100% effective way to prevent HIV, other STDs, and pregnancy. Abstinence Teaching The correct and consistent use of a male _______________ can reduce the risk of STD transmission , including HIV infection and pregnancy. latex condoms _____ method is 100% effective, and condom use cannot guarantee absolute protection against any STD or pregnancy. NO

20. Teaching project by: Michelle Manette