Month: February 2017

Ovarian Cancer & Teal

Health Weeks

February is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month – an annual Ovarian Cancer Australia campaign. This campaign raises awareness of the signs and symptoms, risks and impact of ovarian cancer. It also raises vital funds to support Ovarian Cancer Australia’s work in awareness, support, advocacy and research. This February, Ovarian Cancer Australia invites Australians to host an Afternoon ‘Teal’ (teal is the international colour for ovarian cancer). It is an opportunity to bring family, friends and local community together to raise awareness for ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is a disease where some of the cells in one or both ovaries start to grow abnormally and develop into cancer.

Approximately 1,400 Australian women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year. Sadly, the death rate for ovarian cancer is relatively high – 2 out of 3 Australian women diagnosed with ovarian cancer will die, and around 75% of women are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Read More >

National condom day

Health Weeks

National Condom Day is an annual health initiative that coincides with 14 February (Valentine’s Day). This is an ideal opportunity to promote healthy relationships, and remind people about the risks of sexually transmissible infections (e.g. genital herpes, and HIV/AIDS), and unplanned pregnancies.

Results from the National Survey of Australian Secondary Students and Sexual Health (2013) indicated that:

• amongst sexually active students, the most commonly used form of contraception was the condom (58%), with the majority (63%) of students believing that ‘most’ or ‘all’ of their peers use a condom when they have sex
• the majority (67%) of sexually active students reported that a condom was available the last time they had sex, and 86% of these students reported using it
• when referring to their last sexual encounter, 23% of sexually active students reported having sex in a less controlled space (i.e. friend’s house, car or outdoors), where a condom may not have been readily available.

These results suggest that people are more likely to use condoms if they are available during a sexual encounter; but there are still many occasions where people are engaging in sexual risk taking behaviour. Read More >

Australia’s Healthy Weight Week

Health Weeks

Australia’s Healthy Weight Week is an initiative of the Dietitians Association of Australia, raising awareness of the importance of achieving and maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle. Events are held in February each year to help promote this message and encourage people to see an Accredited Practising Dietitian to assist with food, nutrition and lifestyle management. – more