Running head: Community Health Promotion: Street youth

Community Health Promotion: Street youth

Community Health Promotion: Street youth

Street youth are one of the most vulnerable populations in Canada. On any given day
there are estimated to be 150,000 street youth (DeMatteo, 1999). According to the Enhanced
Surveillance of Canadian Street Youth, this population experiences higher rates of unprotected
sex, multiple sexual partners, unsafe drug use, sharing of drug equipment, increase of STIs, and
blood-borne infections (PHAC, 2008). Street youth also tend to engage in risky sexual
behaviours. For example, Chlamydia is 10 times more common in street youth then among the
general population; a phenomenon attributed to reduced condom use (PHAC, 2008). For the
purposes of this paper, we will focus on sexual education with regard to street youth, the need for
education and supports, and how education and support positively affects the street youth
population.
Sexual health is a key aspect of personal health and social welfare that influences
individuals across their life span (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2008, p. 2). Improper
education regarding sexual health can have major impacts on an individuals life. Sexual
education is not just teaching about intercourse or sexual activity; it encompasses gender roles,
sexual orientation, body image, relationships with others, reproduction, and personal values.
Individuals who have received little or no sexual education tend to engage in risky sexual
behaviors such as unprotected sex and multiple partners, putting them at greater risk for HIV/STI
infections as well as unplanned pregnancy. The impacts of these risky sexual behaviors, such as
increased cancer risk or future fertility issues, can affect them throughout life. Those who
contract HIV/STIs also face a lifetime of managing their disease, as well as managing possible
transmission to partners or children.
Sexual education has been identified as needing to be promoted more amongst street
youth. Street youth primarily are homeless or have an unstable home environment. Sexual

Community Health Promotion: Street youth

education takes place primarily in the school, with supplemental education in the home. For most
street youth, access to sexual education is limited due to them dropping out or being expelled
from school. Street youth have limited to no support systems in place, such as family or school
and are one of the most vulnerable populations in Canada. Street-involved youth have shown
that they are more likely to have had sexual intercourse at a younger age and are at an increased
risk for many sexually transmitted infections when compared with those in the general youth
population(PHAC, 2008). Street youth, along with limited access to education, also lack access
to resources and basic health care related to sexual health. Health promotion, including sexual
education, is needed for this population group in order to allow them to take charge of their
health and make informed decisions.
Street youth are at higher risk for health related issues both current and later in life, such
as HIV/STIs, AIDS, or the long term effects from drug and alcohol abuse such as liver disease,
heart problems and neurological disorders. Focusing on sexual health, street youth are more
likely to have unprotected sex with multiple partners while under the influence of drugs and
alcohol, compared to the general public (PHAC, 2006). The Public Health Agency of Canada
released a study looking at how street youth engage in risky sexual behaviour more often than
the general population. The study showed that street youth had earlier initiation of sexual
activity, frequent sexual activity with multiple partners, and also engaged in unprotected sex and
prostitution more often than the general population of the same age group. The largest gap from
the general population is regarding STIs; for example, according to the Public Health Agency of
Canada, street youth are 20 to 30 times more likely to have Chlamydia.
The importance of teaching sexual education has become a main focus in recent years.
Studies have shown that adolescents who have received some form of sexual education have

Community Health Promotion: Street youth

reduced STI/STD rates, lower teen pregnancy, perform fewer risky sexual behaviors, and have
improved self worth and a healthier body image. The importance of sexual education has never
been greater; teachers, parents and community resources need to work together to improve
sexual education. Studies have shown that well planned and implemented sexual health
education programs are effective in reducing STI/HIV infections and unplanned pregnancy and
help develop a positive self-image (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2008).
The need for health promotion and sexual education for this population group has never
been greater. Street youth perceive themselves as being at low risk for contracting STIs,
according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. This, along with limited access to sexual
education, puts them at an even greater risk. There is a need for accessible health care programs,
educational programs, and outreach initiatives to reduce the risk of exposure to STIs in this
population. Such health care includes initiatives such as Talking About Sexuality in Canadian
Communities a program based out of Calgary that focuses on street youth and youth with
disabilities. They provide resources and information about risk assessment and STI prevalence
among these community groups. They primarily offer resources and conferences allowing health
care professionals to gain more insight into these communities and advance care for these
individuals. Another resource is www.sexualityandu.ca. While not directed towards street youth
specifically, it covers sexual education overall, focusing on education, information and
connecting people with local resources in their community.
While both are great resources, I believe they could be more effective by more directly
addressing specific issues. A website could be made for street youth to access that pertains to
their specific risks. According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, youth use the
internet for communicating, establishing and maintaining relationships, and entertainment. Street

Community Health Promotion: Street youth

youth use their online time to have fun, socialize, and look for resources such as housing,
medical care, and employment (Eyrich-Garg, 2010). An info-graphic from the University of
Victoria surveying street youth showed that 94% not only had access to the internet but
frequently accessed it. Due to the large number of street youth with internet access, the website
has the potential to reach a greater portion of that population.
I believe a website would be the best option for health promotion. It allows street youth
to access educational content as needed and to learn at their own pace, with information that
correlates to their situation. The website will encompass two teaching strategies., The first is
independent study, and youth will be able to access the knowledge as they need it. The second is
visual learning through the use of pictures and instructions. I believe these two learning
strategies will be the best for the our population demographic to instill proper education to street
youth.
Once implemented, evaluating the effectiveness of the health promotion would be easy.
The website itself tracks the page views, new visitors, return IP addresses as well as popular
pages. This will allow us to see the number of people who have visited the website, and see if
there are areas we can expand on. The Public Health Agency of Canada records the statistics on
HIV/STI rates yearly as well as roughly every three years they focus on street youth in Canada.
Using these statistics we can evaluate if promoting a focus on education and prevention of
HIV/STIs is working in this demographic area as well as the general public.

Community Health Promotion: Street youth

References
DeMatteo, D. (1999). Toronto street youth and HIV/AIDS: Prevalence, demographics,
and risks. Journal of Adolescent Health, 25 (5), 358-366.
Eyrich-Garg, K. (2011). Sheltered in cyberspace? Computer use among the unsheltered
street homeless. Computers in Human Behavior, 27 (1), 296-303.
Lenhart, A., Raine, L., & Lewis, O. (2001). Teenage life online: The rise of the instantmessage generation and the internets impact on friendships and family
relationships. Washington, DC: Pew Internet & American Life Project.
Public Health Agency of Canada. (2008). Chlamydia: A hidden epidemic in Canadian
street youth. Retrieved from http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/sti-its-survepi/qf-

fr/chlamydia-eng.php#ref
Public Health Agency of Canada. (2008). Sexual behaviours of Canadian street youth:
How risky are they? Retrieved from http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/sti-its-

surv-

epi/qf-fr/sb-cs-

eng.php#jmp-lan7

Public Health Agency of Canada. (2012). Hepatitis C & STI surveillance &
epidemiology: Reports on street youth in Canada. Retrieved from
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/sti-its-surv-epi/youth-jeunes-eng.php
Selfridge, M. (2016). Infographic: Social media, technology and BC street-involved
youth. Retrieved from http://homelesshub.ca/blog/infographic-socialmedia-

technology-and-bc-street-involved-youth
Shields, S. (2004). Prevalence and correlates of chlamydia infection in Canadian street
youth. Journal of Adolescent Health, 34, 384-390.

Community Health Promotion: Street youth

Talking About Sexuality in Canadian Communities. (2016). Supporting healthy sexuality

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