Gumleaf
November 18th, 2008, 06:39 PM
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
By Tamara McLean
A culture of binge drinking among backpackers is driving up risky sex and rates of sexually transmitted infections in Sydney, specialists say.
Loads of free condoms have been delivered to backpacker hostels across the city in response to a new trend showing more travellers are seeking diagnosis and treatment for new infections, especially chlamydia.
The trend is in keeping with recent research showing backpackers were more likely to report drinking alcohol to excess and then not using condoms, increasing their risk of contracting an STI, said Sydney Sexual Health Centre acting director Dr Lynne Wray.
"The number of heterosexual backpackers coming to the clinic with new sexually transmitted infections is of great concern," Dr Wray said.
"A small proportion of these also have HIV infections that they have acquired in other countries on the way to Australia.
She said the alarming trend showed the basic safe sex messages were not getting through.
"It is important for people to pack condoms when travelling, and remember that many countries popular with backpackers have higher rates of HIV and STIs than Australia," Dr Wray said.
Local health authorities and councils have teamed up with the NSW Backpackers Operators Association to promote better sexual health practices among young international travellers.
As part of that, free condoms have been distributed in backpacker accommodation throughout Sydney to try to reduce the incidence of STIs among this group of people.
The project includes advertisements in backpacker magazines, on posters and pub drink coasters that carry messages like "I came for a trip of a lifetime, now I'm leaving with a lifetime infection. Use a condom".
Figures presented at the Australasian sexual health congress in September showed rates of chlamydia are rising fast in major cities, with about five per cent of people under 25 now believed to have the disease.
By Tamara McLean
A culture of binge drinking among backpackers is driving up risky sex and rates of sexually transmitted infections in Sydney, specialists say.
Loads of free condoms have been delivered to backpacker hostels across the city in response to a new trend showing more travellers are seeking diagnosis and treatment for new infections, especially chlamydia.
The trend is in keeping with recent research showing backpackers were more likely to report drinking alcohol to excess and then not using condoms, increasing their risk of contracting an STI, said Sydney Sexual Health Centre acting director Dr Lynne Wray.
"The number of heterosexual backpackers coming to the clinic with new sexually transmitted infections is of great concern," Dr Wray said.
"A small proportion of these also have HIV infections that they have acquired in other countries on the way to Australia.
She said the alarming trend showed the basic safe sex messages were not getting through.
"It is important for people to pack condoms when travelling, and remember that many countries popular with backpackers have higher rates of HIV and STIs than Australia," Dr Wray said.
Local health authorities and councils have teamed up with the NSW Backpackers Operators Association to promote better sexual health practices among young international travellers.
As part of that, free condoms have been distributed in backpacker accommodation throughout Sydney to try to reduce the incidence of STIs among this group of people.
The project includes advertisements in backpacker magazines, on posters and pub drink coasters that carry messages like "I came for a trip of a lifetime, now I'm leaving with a lifetime infection. Use a condom".
Figures presented at the Australasian sexual health congress in September showed rates of chlamydia are rising fast in major cities, with about five per cent of people under 25 now believed to have the disease.