The initiative by the Burnet Instituteand Marie Stopes International, comes as research shows that young men and women who attend music festivals have limited knowledge of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and regularly engage in unsafe sex.
“The mixture of euphoria and possible substance use that is common place at music festivals can lead to unprotected sexual activity,” Jill Michelson, Acting Australian CEO of Marie Stopes International, said.
“Just one act of unprotected sex can result in STIs and unplanned pregnancy – both of which can be avoided by using a condom.”
“The Big Day Out provides the ideal venue for reaching young people and educating them on the importance of practicing safer sex and preventing STIs.”
A recent study by the Burnet Institute published in February 2007 analysed sexual-risk behaviour, self-perceived risk and knowledge of STIs among young Australians attending music festivals.1 The research was conducted on a cross-sectional sample of people aged 16 to 29 years attending the Big Day Out. Findings indicated that 80% of attendees had experienced vaginal or anal sex. 48% had multiple partners in the previous year and 66% had a new partner in the past 3 months.
“The study found that 39% of young people did not use condoms all or most of the time, placing these young people at real risk of getting an STI,” Associate Professor Hellard of the Burnet Institute said.
“Also of concern is that only 24% of those classified as being at risk of an STI perceived themselves as actually being at risk.
“The Burnet Institute is continuing its work at the Big Day Out, promoting issues related to STIs and their prevention, and working with Marie Stopes International, we’ll be making sure youth have access to condoms and sexual health information.”
In 2007 there were over 50,000 notifications of Chlamydia nationwide. In comparison, there were only 16,962 notifications of Chlamydia in 2000 – indicating that the rate of diagnosis has nearly tripled over the past seven years.
“Often STIs such as Chlamydia don’t have any symptoms, so can be contracted and passed on unknowingly,” Ms Michelson said.
“The only way to make sure you don’t have Chlamydia is to have an STI checkup, and the only way to avoid it is to use a condom.
“This year’s Big Day Out looks set to be one to remember, but it is important that it is remembered for the right reasons.”
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About Marie Stopes International: Marie Stopes International is a not-for-profit sexual and reproductive healthcare provider, with centres in the ACT, Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia. The organisation offers a range of services, including abortion, vasectomy, sexually transmitted infection check-ups and contraception. Surplus proceeds from Australian activities support the work of the Marie Stopes International Partnership, which delivers sexual and reproductive health services to over four million people in 38 countries worldwide.
About the Burnet Institute: The Burnet Institute is Australia’s leading medical research and public health institute specialising in infectious diseases immunology and immunotherapy. The Institute has more than 300 scientific researchers and public health professional and has specifically chosen to focus its efforts on finding solutions to those infectious diseases that have the greatest impact on humankind today. Burnet’s Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health Research undertakes research into the prevalence, transmission and impact of serious infectious diseases, including HIV, hepatitis C and chlamydia and works with young people to understand how these diseases spread. The findings of its research are used to develop strategies to prevent the spread of disease within the community. For further information about the Burnet Institute www.burnet.edu.au
For media enquiries contact: Samantha Smith, Public Relations 0421 097 150
