Improving sexual and reproductive health

Chlamydia is the most common STI among young people. In 15–19-year-olds, STI cases dropped during the pandemic but increased in 2022 for males and in 2023 for females. Between 2019 and 2023, STIs rose by 15% for females aged 15-19 and fell by 10% for males aged 15-19.
Among 20–24-year-olds, STIs increased for males in the first pandemic year, then fell for both sexes in 2021, rising again in 2022 and staying level in 2023. Overall, STIs rose by 3% for females and 19% for males in this group.
Females are more affected by STIs than males among 15-24 year olds.
Yarra Ranges has a low rate of low birthweight babies (3.6%) compared to Victoria’s 4.8%, with a 14.3% decline in 2021. It is unknown if Yarra Ranges followed a global trend of decreasing premature births and rising stillbirths during the pandemic. Nationally, the stillbirth rate hit a 20-year high, coinciding with bushfires and the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the rate returned to 2019 levels.
Yarra Ranges has a high teenage birth rate. While it had been declining before the pandemic, it jumped by 36% between 2019 and 2020, while the rate fell by 10% across Victoria. Yarra Ranges is the only Eastern Metropolitan Council where this has happened, as other eastern areas remained below average.

Write letters of support for women’s health services applying for grants to run programs.
Advocate to other levels of government for improved access to women’s health services in the region.
Redistribute health messages from our key health partners via Council’s networks.

Council is a member of the Northeastern Public Health Unit (NEPHU) Sexual and Reproductive Health Program Control Group and supports the delivery of this strategic priority and action plan.
Supported by a grant from NEPHU, Council’s youth team are working to improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes for young people. This will be delivered through in-school sessions for students, as well as some workshops for parents and teachers.
Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services provide information and support to new parents and families. MCH nurses help women navigate pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care. Nurses promote family planning, safe sexual health practices, and provide resources for breastfeeding, maternal mental health and reproductive health.

Shaping Yarra Ranges