United Kingdom: Youth Can Now Get Hi-Tech Sex Advice

BITE, the Barnsley Interactive Teenage Education project, will put touch-screen computer consoles that offer sexual health advice into area schools next week. Students will be able to test their knowledge of sexual health issues -- such as pregnancy and STDs -- and get information and advice. Dr. Kathy Phipps, BITE coordinator for Barnsley Primary Care Trust (PCT) and a general practitioner (GP), said, "The great thing about the system is that it is confidential and young people can ask questions they might normally be too embarrassed to ask their GP. By inputting some information about age and sex, the computer can create a health risk profile for the user and give interesting and useful facts about many aspects of sexual health that normally concern teenagers." Four computer consoles provided by MEDCAL (Medical Education Developed by Computer Aided Learning) and funded by PCT are available in Barnsley and will be loaned to various schools and youth settings. Students at Royston High School, who have already tested one computer, gave encouraging feedback.

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