A Chip off the Old Block. So to Speak.
A
ccording to a recent BBC news story, health officials are concerned about an alarming number of poverty-stricken UK youth using crisp packets (potato chip bags, to those of us across the pond) and cling film (plastic wrap) for contraception.
So is that how we get mini Doritos?
Seriously, though, reports such as these should raise questions--and I say this for reasons you're probably not thinking. If you read the story, you'll see the information is from generic sexual health experts: "Sexual health experts say these improvised contraceptives not only do not work - but do not offer protection against disease." Only one person is named, a Mr. Peter Greenhouse, who is merely identified as a "consultant." One telling line in the article, however, says "The Family Planning Association is calling for more government money for free contraceptives." Hmmm. Could the information for this article perhaps have come from the Family Planning Association? Could Peter Greenhouse perhaps be a consultant who works with this association? Could the association be trying to spin a bit of propaganda?
Perhaps, perhaps. Notice no studies are quoted, no statistics cited. I would suggest the Family Planning Association may be trying to get a bit of publicity, and spinning anecdotal stories into widespread practices to get more support for their cause. I'm not suggesting poor teens in the UK (or anywhere else, for that matter) have never used inappropriate contraception--including potato chip bags. I'm merely suggesting it may not be as widespread as the Family Planning Association would have us believe.
Not that we can blame the Family Planning Association; this is, after all, how the game is played today. Still, how many people read this kind of story and question its motivation? And even if the story is accurate, we might need to consider other implications.
For instance, let's go ahead and say the UK should offer free condoms to low-income youth. If so many of them are using potato chip bags for contraception, how can we be sure they won't use the condom packages instead of the condoms?
For other takes on this story, see An Englishman's Castle, Say Anything Blog and Die Puny Humans.
Posted by TLHines at February 10, 2004 11:50 AM
Kind of reminds me of all these scientists who drone on and on about global warming, then just happen to be consultants for some sort of eco-company.
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Would it be in bad taste to wonder if they prefer Ruffles potato chips?
"Ruffles has ridges..."
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"Betcha can't eat just one!"
Ouch.
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OK so you think this shocking news is just propaganda. I don't think it is. Mr Greenhouse is a sexual health consultant working at grass roots level for the NHS in an extremely busy sexual health centre in central Bristol. There is nothing glamorous about the place. If you do your research before criticising you will find that he turns away 550 people per week who have symptoms whilst managing to see in the region of 100. He is in fact an extremely pro-active person in his own right in the field of raising awareness for sexual health and if you read the article carefully you will notice it is stated in that he started the first integrated sexual health centre in the UK in Ipswich. He is a very intelligent, kind and genuinely concerned person and also very witty. He treats everyone who consults him as an individual and they pass through his centre with dignity intact.
And no I am not a colleague of his.
Think about what he is saying. He is rightly linking social/economic factors with problems attaining contraception for youngsters. There are hardly any Brooke clinics these days or wellwoman clinics in the provincial cities anyway. Where are teenagers supposed to go now when support for them in their inevitable experimentation with sex (i.e. advise on safe sex and the attainment of free contraceptives) is lacking? It is also probable that statistics have been recorded about such instances as the use of cling film and crisp packets as surely sexual health clinics all over the country do monitor such problems. The news is valid.
We have the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in Europe and there has to be a reason. The lack of facilities and advice is almost certainly at the root of it. Single parenthood is extremely hard and for a young girl (and boy as present or absent dad)the consequences of raising a child at such an early stage in life must be very hard to bear.
The NHS needs a shake up in this area which is very neglected in terms of the provision of facilities, buildings, equipment and staff, (I have worked in the field of hospital design and have some knowledge of this) not to mention the integration of sexual health matters other than disease into clincs. A confidential clinic such as the Milne in Bristol can offer councelling for rape victims and psyho-sexual support services too or referral to these. A campaign for more openness and liberty in societies views on attaining help and advice would also be helpful to most people of a wide range of ages as the majority of adults are sexually active and everyone needs advice from time to time. A confidential clinic is often the best option rather than a GP.
Food for thought?
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