STI Risks and Youth

Webquest

Introduction

Have you been told about STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections)? You probably have. But, have you ever wondered how real that risk of infection is for you? For your friends? Guess which age group is at second highest risk of STI. You probably guessed it - youth!

Task

In this WebQuest you are asked to create a short Summary Report (PowerPoint file) answering the question Why should young people in Canada be concerned about sexually transmitted infections?

1 st -you will read several selected readings about STI’s 2nd-you will prepare the short Summary Report.

Read about STIs at The Public Health Agency of Canada . Read about the basic facts, a. what they are, b. how to protect yourself, and c. how people get infected.

From Stats Canada data , calculate Rates of STI/STD Infections for Young People in Canada: From those tables, determine the -two age groups and -two habit behaviours of the Canadian population that are most at risk of STI infections.

Next, prepare bar graphs, with accompanying data tables , for the rate (number of people per 100,000) of chlamydia infection for 15-19 year-olds for the years 1991 to 2005 for Canada. Are those rates going up or down?

Next, calculate the number of students who, according to the 2005 Canadian rate of infection (15-19 year-olds), would be infected in a high school of 1000 students. Did that number surprise you? Using this ratio, calculate how may students are likely to be infected in your own high school.

So, according to these statistics, in a typical high school of 1000 students, about 7 students would have an STI. Think you're safe? You might want to think again after reading

this article on the sexual networks within high schools

. Based on that article, what is unique about youth patterns of forming relationships?

7. Multiple partners and unprotected sexual intercourse are the two ways to increase the risk of getting an STI. Are these behaviours present among youth? Go to the Health Canada website and read their

newsletter/report

on the sexual risk behaviours of Canadians. Then, read the recent

Statistics Canada report

sexual behaviours.

on youth

8. Do you think that youth in Canada are aware of the risks of STI being transmitted by other young people? Read this summary report and check out how sexual activity in teens is changing over the last few years. Include that in your report

• Prepare a PowerPoint

Summary/Commentary Report

on how STIs affect young Canadians. Discuss whether there is a significant risk of STI to young people in Canada. Include all of your findings from this WebQuest, including if there were any gaps in your group's knowledge of STI and STI risk, Canadian data and analysis of STI risk and the other facts you gathered from visiting the assigned websites.

Pict of Jefferson High and young adult sexual behaviour

Evalutation

• Your summary report for this WebQuest will be assessed using the

Evaluation Criteria for

Summary/Commentary Reports.