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Miss Rebecca Wilkins

3 rd Annual Conference of the Children’s HIV Association ‘ Young People and HIV: Back to the Future’. Miss Rebecca Wilkins. Redbridge Primary Care Trust, Essex. &. Dr Tomás Campbell. Newham Primary Care Trust, London. Friday 15 May, The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester.

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Miss Rebecca Wilkins

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  1. 3rd Annual Conference of the Children’s HIV Association ‘Young People and HIV: Back to the Future’ Miss Rebecca Wilkins Redbridge Primary Care Trust, Essex & Dr Tomás Campbell Newham Primary Care Trust, London Friday 15 May, The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester

  2. What should you tell adolescents living with HIV about sex – and in whose language? Rebecca Wilkins Community Matron, ONEL (Redbridge) Tomás Campbell Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Newham Psychological Services, London

  3. Our experience • Sun Clinic, Newham • “Looking Forward” Project in Newham since 2004 • Sexual health workshop in Zurich, July 2008 • Publications

  4. Defining adolescence • What do we mean by adolescence? • Age range? • Psychological and emotional maturity? • Life stage? • Age alone does not help to define adolescence

  5. Change/transition Physical Cognitive Emotional Psychosocial tasks Autonomy – change of role within the family Identity: sense of self Body image Peer relationships Vocational and educational goals Moral value system Increased financial responsibility Experimentation/boundaries Health risks/accepting responsibility Sexuality - a developmental perspective

  6. Developmental stages • Am I normal? • Early (10-14) biological focus • Who am I? • Middle (15-17) peer focus • Where am I going? • Late (18+) educational/vocational intimate relationships

  7. Influences on development • Varying speeds between and within individuals • Family, socio-economic and cultural factors • Personal experiences

  8. Additional factors for HIV+ young people • Impact of HIV infection on neurological, cognitive and physical development • How has HIV been managed within the family • Medication • Disclosure • Secrecy • Meaning of HIV – impact on self-esteem? • Criminalisation of HIV transmission

  9. What prevents straightforward discussions? • Professionals • Embarrassment • Fear of getting it wrong • Fear of upsetting parents • Fear of being perceived to encourage sexual experimentation • Covering your back professionally • Parents • Embarrassment – Yeugh! factor • Cultural, religious, gender factors • Young people • Embarrassment • Adults don’t know anything about sex • “It’s was different in your day”

  10. Sex Talk • The message we give can be all about what they can’t do • Good to talk about the activities that young people can take part in safely as well as those they need to be “careful” with • We want to be encouraging these young people to develop healthy sexual relationships and health sexual identities Please don’t assume young people are heterosexual

  11. Language to avoid • Bird and the bees – euphemistic language to avoid saying those embarrassing words – causes misunderstanding • Protected heterosexual vaginal intercourse – scientific language which makes us feel comfortable and and in control and they probably won’t understand

  12. Language to avoid • Finger of fudge – street language from when we were young - cringy and they probably won’t understand • Street language from nowadays – cringy, we may get it wrong and say something we don’t mean, language may be out of date

  13. Language to use • Shagging, jiggy-jiggy, blow jobs, pussy, fanny vag willy, dick, cock, bum, hard, fucking • Ask young people what words they use for these terms – they love teaching us, it empowers them, gives them some control of this very difficult and embarrassing conversation for them and us • Whatever words we use check that the young person has understood – ask them to explain what we have said in their language

  14. Condom demonstration

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