Rovaniemi takes sexual health project for youth

Rovaniemi has taken a project to prevent unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) mainly through distribution of free contraceptives among its residents aged below 25.

The initiative implemented in full force from this year in conjunction with a number of political, youth, and student organisations who would distribute the free contraceptives.

“The young citizens of Rovaniemi have been very active and have collected 1,234 signatures in support of the move,” said the Basic Health Board’s Medical Administrative Superintendent Paula Reponen.

The appeal for the initiative with the supporting signatures was handed over to the city council in February and the Committee on Social and Healthcare Issues sanctioned it on May 31, 2017.

For many years now, the Ministry of Social Affairs and the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), too, have been urging the municipalities to offer free contraception to young people. Yet, so far, only a few of them have taken any action towards that end.

According to the THL statistics, in Rovaniemi, the number of induced abortions among young women has been significantly higher than the national average in the recent years, while chlamydia has been the most common STD among the young population. While these diseases and unwanted pregnancies have diverse social and psychological ramifications for the people concerned, they also cost the municipality dearly.

At present, there are about 4,300 girls and women aged from 15 to 24 in the city. In 2015, the abortion costs of the under-25 women alone totalled to about 17,500 euros and the costs of immediate care for the infections came to no less than 35,000 euros.

Against this background, free contraception is held to be an effective cost-cutting measure. Although it would cost the city about 150,000 euros a year, at least the same amount will be saved in social and healthcare costs for maternity leaves, abortions, and disease treatment, affirmed Paula Reponen.

It has been seen in the case of the south-western City of Rauma that undertook a similar initiative six years ago of providing free contraception among its residents aged below 20. That project reported a remarkable decrease in its abortion rates and the number of STD cases. The project outcomes also show that it saved the city up to 100,000 euros a year on reduced abortions alone.

Rationalizing setting the target age group at under-25, Reponen said, “Many young people don’t know how to apply contraception properly. Moreover, it is recommended that contraception should be started at an early age for better prevention in the future.” Besides, she said, the older group of women aged 25 to 34 years, which has the highest rate of abortions, is already enjoying pre- and post-pregnancy counselling services.

The city has already distributed contraceptive pills and condoms for three to six months among youngsters for free in public places like schools and student healthcare centres under the first phase of the intervention, said Reponen, adding that next year the project will also offer implants and intrauterine devices. In addition to that, contraception counselling will also be made available to the targeted group.