Speak Up: Sexually Smarter – AMSAHK

Name of the activity: Speak Up: Sexually Smarter

Country/NMO: AMSAHK China, Hong Kong

Program: HIV, AIDS and other STIs

Contact information: contact [email protected] to get in touch with the Activity Coordinator

Type of the activity: Continuous Activity

Category: Capacity Building

Focus area: Prevention of all STIs or are specific STIs, STI education or training for future health-care professions

Sustainable Development Goals addressed: SDG 3 (Good health and well-being)

General description:

Following the success of the workshop in previous tenures, we have once again collaborated with SCOME and Sagami Hong Kong in organising a condom-making workshop. In the workshop, Sagami instructors will be guiding participants in making a DIY latex-condom, and informing participants about correct condom usage. In addition, the talk also contains topics on common STDs and how to prevent them.

Problem statement:

In Hong Kong, STIs and condom usage is still a topic considered very taboo, and the public has great misconceptions about SCORA-related topics, and that includes medical students as well. Therefore, it is important as health educators to train future healthcare professions about correct condom use and STI prevention, so as to indirectly educate the general public and thus gain awareness. 

Target groups:

• Medical students

Beneficiaries:

• General population
• Medical students
• Healthcare Students
• Doctors
• Other health professionals

Objectives:

1. Educating medical students on sexual safety and STDs:

1.1) have students understand the specific ways and tools they can use to stay safe during sex

1.2) ensure that students have a general understanding of what a few common STDs are and how they are preventable and treated

2. Have a widespread impact to decrease the stigma around sexual behaviour

2.1) target student groups that may be less prone or feel more uncomfortable to have open conversations about sexual intimacy

2.2) using a workshop interactive way to allow students to actively talk about sexual behaviour instead of a lecture style

Indicators of Success:

At least 75% of the participants (i.e. 60) show increase in knowledge on topics of STIs and its prevention, and the correct usage of condoms

Methodology:

The workshop is a collaboration between AMSAHK and Sagami, and is divided into a lecture session and an interactive session. In the interactive session, Sagami instructors lead the workshop by teaching and guiding participants on how to make a latex condom. They also demonstrate the differences between latex and polyurethane condoms in terms of durability and production. In the lecture session, AMSAHK members talk about different STIs, how to prevent them, and how effective condoms can prevent them, while Sagami instructors briefly talk about the history of Sagami and condom making in general. The two sessions are one hour each, making the workshop 2 hours long.

The preparations made are as follows: SCORA was in charge of contacting Sagami and as a point of contact for Sagami instructors to discuss contents of the workshop and time & venue, as well as room booking and other logistics. SCOME was in charge of contacting participants and making pre- and post-evaluation forms, as well as assessing the activity’s success. Sagami helped with promotion by designing a poster, which SCORA has posted on its Instagram page. We have also posted promotional messages on each of the two medical schools’ WhatsApp groups.

The workshop as a whole doesn’t have much risk, but one possible obstacle we may face is that since sexual health is still a rather taboo topic in Hong Kong, participants may not really fully understand these SHR-issues. This is why in the application form there is a question corner where participants enter stuff they want to know more, and any questions about STIs, condoms and more, in which we answer on the day of the workshop.

As for unforeseen issues, there are fortunately none that occured.

Plans for evaluation:

We have used pre- and post- evaluation forms to see how participants have learnt more about STIs and how to prevent them, contraception, correct condom usage, etc. 

We will also use the number of participants as an indication of our reach.

External collaborations:

Sagami, providing the resources for condoms and providing us information on how condoms are made and safe & correct condom use. This activity is non-profitable and no money is spent on the activity itself.