A council report has found “significant gaps” in public awareness of sexual health services in Gateshead. The report, formed partly through a series of focus groups across Gateshead, has revealed that there is a “clear need” to improve outreach and education, on local sexual health provisions.
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00:00A council report has found significant gaps in public awareness of sexual health services in Gateshead.
00:05The report, formed partly through a series of focus groups across Gateshead, has revealed
00:09that there is a clear need to improve outreach and education on local sexual health provisions.
00:13The focus group totalled 60 participants, with 33% between the ages of 14 and 20 years old.
00:19The common gaps in local knowledge includes lack of awareness that sexual health services
00:24provide testing for people not experiencing sexually transmitted infection symptoms,
00:28not knowing they could access contraception, and a lack of awareness of sexual health services in rural areas.
00:35Younger people often preferred consulting with their GP or searching online for answers to sexual health concerns,
00:41which indicated a gap in youth outreach.
00:43The report also found that some from conservative or religious backgrounds
00:47viewed sexual health services as unnecessary or inappropriate.
00:51The report stated, by addressing these gaps and implementing the suggested improvement,
00:55Gateshead can ensure more comprehensive and accessible sexual health care for all residents.