A brand new marketing campaign has been launched by NHS Lanarkshire to encourage younger males to entry its free secure intercourse recommendation and help companies.
The initiative is a part of #SaferSexLanarkshire consciousness week, which runs till Sunday.
There was a dramatic decline within the variety of younger males accessing important sexual well being companies throughout Lanarkshire.
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Consultants consider disruption attributable to the COVID pandemic is partly responsible for the 32 per cent fall within the variety of male attendance because the starting of 2020.
Up to now this 12 months, simply eight per cent of all kids' clinic appointments had been booked by males - down from 18 per cent on 4 years in the past.
Throughout #SaferSexLanarkshire week, clinicians are making a recent enchantment to younger males throughout the area to entry the "free, confidential, and discreet companies".
Drop-in clinics and different help methods are in place at Coatbridge's Coathill Hospital.
Dr Rashmi Ronghe, lead advisor in sexual well being, informed Lanarkshire Dwell : “The pandemic has offered us with challenges, however the proportion of younger females accessing companies has all the time been considerably larger than males.
“What we would like is for younger males to know what free companies are on provide, and the way simply they'll accessed, and with out worrying about being embarrassed.
“Safer intercourse will assist forestall unintended pregnancies and cease the contraction sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and blood borne viruses.
“STIs stay excessive, significantly amongst younger folks in Scotland, and might go undiagnosed as they'll typically be symptomless."
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The clinics at Coathill Hospital are for children throughout Lanarkshire and the group are delighted to supply their assist to anybody in search of somebody to show to.
Karen Stewart, sexual well being group lead, mentioned: “Younger males are reluctant to attend a clinic on their very own, but when they're conscious of a pal who has attended, they're much extra more likely to go to.
“The prevailing angle is younger males will solely attend in the event that they completely need to. However what we wish to do is forestall infections within the first place, after which if there's a drawback, deal with it as shortly as attainable.
"We now have 9 websites with docs readily available and an enormous a part of bringing in new folks is phrase of mouth amongst youngsters.
"We have now regulars who come again to us and ask for the individual they beforehand spoke to which suggests relationships, and positions of belief, are constructed.
"I like what I do and the most effective a part of my week is holding the younger individual's clinic; it is such a buzz and the kids coming in do not even see the uniform any extra - they simply see somebody who's there to take heed to, and assist, them.
“All of our companies are free, simple to entry, and we take nice care to make sure they're as discreet and reassuring as attainable.
"We encourage everybody to entry the companies on provide throughout #SaferSexLanarkshire week and past.”
Dr Ronghe, who was appointed lead advisor in 2012, added: "Our well being promotion division developed a neighborhood listing and we despatched the data on to colleges and youth employees.
"We have discovered that youths want discovering out data by way of apps and on-line supplies to leaflets - and these digital strategies may be up to date extra often and simply.
"Children should not be embarrassed to come back to us for assist. All of our workers go above and past and are so welcoming; they make folks really feel so snug.
"There are lots of sexual infections the place signs do not present up however we'll nonetheless provide assessments and do every thing we are able to to maintain folks wholesome."
Between 2018 and the tip of final 12 months, total attendance at sexual well being younger folks clinics dropped by 37 per cent, with a 64 per cent lower in males over the identical interval.
Particulars of all of the free, simple to entry and confidential sexual well being companies on provide throughout Lanarkshire may be discovered on-line.
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