Why including sexual health education in specialist communities is essential

Simon Dowe and Jason Warriner look at the statistics regarding sexual health education.

Talking to a patient about their sexual health may not be a subject that nurses feel comfortable in doing.

Nurses who work in primary care are in a unique position to discuss and promote sexual health awareness due to the nature of their work.

• At the end of 2014 there were 103,700 people living with HIV in the UK: this number has increased year on year since the 1980s.
• In 2015, there were approximately 435,000 diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) made in England.

These statistics highlight the need for effective strategies and visions to ensure that services are available and meet the needs of local populations.

In the UK HIV, sexual and reproductive health care services are provided