Safe sex

Safe sex means caring for the health of individuals and their sexual partners [41312]. Having unsafe sex may put people at risk of:

• contracting sexual transmissible infections (STIs) such as gonorrhoea or chlamydia
• unplanned pregnancy
• contracting blood-borne infections (BBIs) such as hepatitis B or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [41146].

Safe sex can also include sexual contact that does not involve the exchange of semen, vaginal fluids, or blood [41145]. The correct use of a condom during sex is one of the most effective methods to reduce risks [41145] although condoms cannot completely guarantee the prevention of unplanned pregnancies or the contraction of STIs and BBIs [41146]. Additional ways to ensure safer sex include limiting the number of sexual partners and undergoing regular STI checks [41145].

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people may experience unwanted sexual health outcomes, with young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people more vulnerable than their older peers [40714][21466][33029][34118]. However, there has been success in controlling some STIs [35898]. A number of culturally appropriate programs and health promotion campaigns are in place across Australia to help address sexual health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in general [41222][39640].

The sociocultural context for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities can also affect decision-making about contraception and sexual health [31297]. Embarrassment and the concept of shame may also limit discussions about sexual health, restrict sexual health clinic visits, and affect decision-making about contraception for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people [33029][31297][40888]. Even at a young age, a strong desire for children is common, and a family-centred focus is often a fundamental component of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture [31297].