Young women and sexually transmitted diseases: the issues for public health

This paper reports on a recent research project which explored the social meaning of heterosexual relationships for young women aged 16 to 18. Drawing on intensive interviews with 95 young women from a diverse range of backgrounds, the study provided evidence that young women remain relatively ignorant about all aspects of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), that the provision of health services to young women is far from adequate and that public health measures have failed to address the issue of the social and political context in which young women operate. Furthermore, there is evidence that the public health campaign to reduce infection with the human immunodeficiency virus has had a counter productive effect on the prevention of STDs. There are three key dimensions to the prevention of STDs through public health measures: ensuring that young women have adequate knowledge to prevent STDs; provision of adequate health services for young women and fostering a social and political milieu which will support women's control over their sexuality.