The HSE Crisis Pregnancy Programme launched a new sexual health promotion campaign to encourage consistent use of contraception among sexually active young adults. The new phase of the Think Contraception campaign will use TV sponsorships, on-the-street promotion, poster and digital advertising, and social media connections to promote its key message, that when it comes to risk of STIs or unplanned pregnancy—Johnny’s got you covered.
Research commissioned by the HSE has shown that 20 per cent of 18 to 25-year-olds did not report consistent use of contraception in the last year. Johnny will encourage young men and women, the vast majority of whom have had sexual intercourse by the time they reach 25, to plan for, and consistently use condoms to protect against unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
Dr Stephanie O’Keeffe, director of the Crisis Pregnancy Programme, outlines the approach taken to this year’s campaign. “Think Contraception has proven to be effective and popular, particularly with young adults, and we want to build on that success to ensure our messages stay fresh and keep working. We also wanted to extend the campaign this year to directly address both contraception and sexually transmitted infections. The common denominator that protects against both is condoms – and who better to remind young people of that, than Johnny.”
