SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS AMONG SINGAPOREAN YOUTHS ON THE RISE

SINGAPORE, Sept 16 (Bernama) -- The incidence of sexually transmitted infections among Singaporean youths aged between 15 and 24 years has increased from 231 per 100,000 population in 1998 to 418 per 100,000 last year.

Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said a students' health survey jointly
conducted by the Health Promotion Board and the Education Ministry two years
ago, found that four percent of Secondary 3 and 4 students had had sexual
intercourse.

Of these, 24 percent were sexually active more than five times in the past
one year, the minister said in a written answer to a question raised in
Singapore Parliament which sat today.

The minister was asked to provide the trends in sexually transmitted
infections among Singaporean youths below the age of 25 over the past 10 years.

Khaw said several programmes were in place to address the rising trend.

The topic on sexually transmitted infections was included in the science
syllabus and the Education Ministry had made it mandatory for schools to
implement sexuality education, he said.
-- BERNAMA