Poor teens’ sex disease timebomb

Sexually transmitted infection risk three times higher for the deprived

Shock ... over 30,000 kids aged 13 to 17 were diagnosed with an STI last year

Posed by models

POOR teenagers are nearly THREE times more likely to catch a sexually transmitted infection than the most well-off, figures show.

More than 30,000 kids aged 13 to 17 were diagnosed with an STI such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea or genital warts last year.
Around 5,973 live in England’s most deprived areas — compared to 2,116 at the other end of the scale.
Overall, 78 per cent of the teens who sought treatment were girls.
The shock Government stats were revealed after an NHS survey last year found that 27 per cent of girls are having sex before the age of consent.
Shadow public health minister Diane Abbott said last night: “What we need is a sex education revolution in ordinary schools, and sustained investment in sexual health services.”

The figures also revealed the number of teens catching STIs has risen more sharply in the poorest areas since 2009.
The rate of STIs per 100,000 teens aged 13-17 in the most deprived areas went up from 881 to 903 over three years.
That compares to 310 rising to 312 in the poshest areas.
Ms Abbott, who obtained the figures, said sexual health clinics were having to reduce opening hours because of funding cuts.

Fear ... Shadow public health minister Diane Abbott

A spokeswoman for charity Brook, which runs clinics across the UK, said cuts “cost the NHS more in the long run”.
Health minister Anne Milton said the Coalition was giving councils ring-fenced budgets to raise awareness and improve sexual health.