Sexual health
Who is most affected and why?
Positive sexual health is not equally distributed within the general population. There are strong links between deprivation and higher rates of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), teenage conceptions and abortions, with the highest burden borne by people living in the most deprived areas. In Stockton-on-Tees, areas of high deprivation are linked to a higher under 18 conception rate and some STI diagnosis rates.
Other higher risk groups include young people, gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men (GBMSM), and people from ethnically minoritised backgrounds. Women are also more affected by poor reproductive and sexual health than men. People who use substances are also at a higher risk of poor sexual health outcomes.
