Safe+Sex+Campaigns

Michelle Bolos **Safe Sex Campaigns ** **History: ** Safe sex campaigns were started in response to the outbreak of HIV and AIDS in the 1980s in America. All of the early images of safe sex campaigns relate to wearing condoms in order to prevent spreading or contracting HIV. Safe sex campaigns can be found in all parts of the world and are usually meant to educate and remind the public about the benefits of practicing safe sex. Safe sex campaigns promote the use of contraception methods, such as condoms, as well as dispel myths about sexually transmitted diseases and empower people to say yes to safe sex.

**Target Audience: ** Originally, HIV and AIDS were thought to be diseases that stemmed from homosexual intercourse, therefore many of the early campaigns were targeted toward those in same sex relationships. However, now of days safe sex campaigns are meant to target young adults (teenagers) and people who have multiple sexual partners, those not in a stable relationship. These campaigns are aimed at these two specific audiences because teenagers may not know the risks of unsafe sex and people who have multiple sexual partners are at greater risk of contracting any type of sexually transmitted disease that could be prevented with the use of contraceptives.

**Current Safe Sex Campaigns: ** MTV, a network often watched by teenage audiences, runs the “Yes, Yes, Yes” campaign which empowers teens to say yes to safe sex. The campaign is currently impacting 11 different countries. The campaign estimates that “over 33 million people are living with HIV and AIDS around the world” (Yes, Yes, Yes) and the main reason this number is increasing is due to unsafe sex practices. Therefore, the current campaigns about safe sex, much like the historical campaigns, are promoting safe sex as a way to reduce the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. Organizations such as Planned Parenthood provide information for the sexually active such as ways to, “keep the pleasure high, but the risk for STIs low” (“Safe Sex,” 2011). Other organizations, such as Family Planning NSW, run safe sex campaigns yearly. Family Planning NSW’s 2011 campaign, which ran throughout colleges, was, “Share Affection not Infection” (“Nsw Safe Sex,” 2011). There are a multitude of organizations across many countries that distribute condoms across university campuses and among teenagers and educate them about the dangers of risky sexual behavior. However, it is important to note that today’s safe sex campaigns go beyond just trying to reduce the risk of HIV/AIDS, but also try to educate about the prevention of other STIs as well as unplanned pregnancy. Unplanned pregnancy is becoming more prevalent among teen aged girls, therefore the promotion of condoms and other contraceptives are in part, to help this growing problem as well.

**A National Concern: The Government:** The prevention of sexually transmitted diseases became a national concern for the American government during the late 70s and 80s during the massive outbreak of HIV/AIDS. Currently, the Center for Disease Control has launched Project SAFE which targets at risk minorities and educates them about safe sex practices in order to reduce their risk of contracting diseases. The FDA also has lots of information on safe sex, stating that, “a condom could save your life” referring to the ability of a condom to reduce the risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease (FDA, 1990). The government is aware of the epidemic of unprotected sex and “In 2002, the federal and state governments spent an estimated $1.73 billion on a wide variety of contraception promotion and pregnancy prevention programs” (Pardue, Rector, & Martin, 2004). It’s not just America who is trying to promote safer sex. After a recent peak in HIV infections in the UK, the government introduced a safe sex campaign in the form of commercials and other advertisements to run throughout the country (Durham, 2001).

**Safe Sex Campaigns: Do they work? ** For many years sexual education has boiled down to teaching abstinence. However, recent research shows that today’s generation of American teenagers aren’t responding to that message. Therefore, in theory, safe sex campaigns, which do not promote abstaining from sex, but rather practicing safe sexual methods seem like it may have a chance to stick in teenagers’ minds. One Dutch study showed that safe sex campaigns had a positive result on people that are in non-monogamous relationships and teenagers (Yzer, Siero, & Buunk, 1999). The general consensus is that safe sex campaigns certainly cannot hurt. By leveling with teens and realizing that some may be sexually active, it is better to preach about safer sex practices rather than wasting time talking about abstinence. Some teens have already decided to be sexually active, therefore learning about abstinence in their sexual education class is not helping them at all, whereas learning about what they can do to stay safe while sexually active is giving them the information they need to make smart choices.

**Interesting Safe Sex Campaigns: ** In today’s wildly sexy world, people, especially young people, are used to seeing sex in the media. Therefore advertisers feel that they need to start getting more creative with their safe sex campaigns in order to make the advertisements stand out in the minds of the people they are trying to target. Some safe sex campaigns are a bit more creative, or shall we say, bizarre than others. · In Australia students at universities often sit under trees to study, so public health nurses hang canisters of condoms from trees for the students to take. · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Ethiopians claim that they dislike using condoms because they don't like the smell, so an American condom producer created flavored and scented condoms that smelled and tasted like the Ethiopian’s native coffee, making them more likely to use the contraceptive (Holohan, 2008). · <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Some campaigns use the scare tactic, reiterating the risk you are taking by not practicing safe sex.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Conclusion: ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in;">In short, safe sex campaigns have evolved over the years but still deliver the same general message, which is that some sort of contraception, most commonly condoms, are needed to prevent contracting and sharing sexually transmitted diseases. All types of organizations, from TV networks to the national government have aided in promoting safe sex practices among teenagers and persons with multiple sexual partners. The campaigns do seem to have a positive effect in promoting safer sexual behavior and educating people on the consequences of risky sexual behavior. Safe sex campaigns are utilized all over the world, and while some may be more memorable than others, they are all doing a great service to those who are at risk. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">** References ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">Advocates for Youth,. Apply to be a great american condom campaign safe site [Web log message]. Retrieved from []

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">Center for Disease Control, (2006). Project safe Retrieved from []

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">Durham, M. (2001, July 28). New safe-sex campaign after rise in infections. The Independent, Retrieved from []- and-families/health-news/new-safesex-campaign-after-rise-in-infections-679317.html

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">FDA, (1990). Hiv and aids activities Retrieved from []

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Historical hiv/aids posters. (n.d.). Retrieved from [|http://www.avert.org/aids-posters.htm#]

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">Holohan, Meghan. (2008, November 3). Safe sex ideas that raise eyebrows. Retrieved from h[|ttp://edition.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/10/31/mf.safe.sex/index.html]

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">Nsw safe sex campaign 2011. (2011, February 24). Retrieved from []

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">Pardue, Melissa, Rector, Robert, & Martin, Shannan. (2004, January 1411). Government spends $12 on safe sex and contraceptives for every $1 spent on abstinence. Retrieved from []

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">Safer sex. (2011). Retrieved from []

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">Weburanist,. (n.d.). 20 (more) creative & bizarre safe sex ads. Retrieved from [|Http://weburbanist.com/2009/05/14/20-more-creative-bizarre-safe-sex-ads/]

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Yes yes yes. (n.d.). Retrieved from []

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">Yzer, M.C., Siero, F.W., & Buunk, B.P. (1999). Can public campaigns effectively change psychological determinants of safer sex? an evaluation of three dutch campaigns. Health Education Research, 15(3), Retrieved from http://her.oxfordjournals.org/content/15/3/339.full doi: 10.1093/her/15.3.339