Sexual health: meeting adolescents' needs.
BACKGROUND
The UK has the highest rate of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), especially among young people, in western Europe. Knowledge of what influences young people's sexual behaviour is limited which highlights a need to understand adolescent development and recognise that they are at increased risk of acquiring an STI compared with other groups. This article examines the risks of acquiring STIs in adolescence and discusses how nurses feel about treating young people with sexual health needs.


CONCLUSIONS
Postgraduate training needs to incorporate specific modules relating to young people within sexual health. Sexual health providers go some way to providing an adolescent-friendly service, but more creative approaches to service delivery such as flexible opening hours and contraception outreach services would make them more accessible to young people.
Metcalfe
Teresa
T
City Hospital, Birmingham. teresa.metcalfe@swbh.nhs.uk
D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services; D004506:Education, Nursing; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D009729:Nursing; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D019529:Sexuality; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006113:United Kingdom