Improving adolescent sexual and reproductive health. A view from Australia: learning from world's best practice.
There is increasing awareness worldwide of the importance of sexual and reproductive health in adolescents. Australia's high rates of teenage pregnancy and increasing rates of sexually transmitted infections in young people reflect a failure to prioritise adolescent sexual and reproductive health on the public health agenda. This paper reviews adolescent sexual and reproductive health in Australia in comparison with international data, and examines the systemic, social and cultural factors that influence it. Based on comparisons with international best practice, recommendations are included for improvement in adolescent sexual and reproductive health within the Australian context.
Williams
Henrietta
H
Family Planning Victoria, 901 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill, Vic. 3128, Australia. hwilliams@fpv.org.au
Davidson
Sandra
S
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D019985:Benchmarking; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012736:Sex Education / Q000379:methods*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors