ABSTRACT
In the province of Quebec, the Ministry of Health reaches the population through its various directorates, one of which is the Direction Gnrale de la Sant Publique' (DGSP). Its mandate is to define, promote and update orientations and strategies relative to public health protection and control of infectious diseases, as well as to ensure that these new directions are implemented. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have been identified as an important health problem across the globe not only because of their physical manifestations and socioeconomic implications, but also because of our struggle to control outbreaks from a public health perspective. We have recently engaged in the examination of a public health campaign produced by Quebec's Ministry of Health for the prevention of STIs in young adults. Finally, we expand on the use of fear in public health campaigns by making important connections with the Foucauldian concepts of governmentality and bio-power as well as the non-Foucauldian notion of (in) security.
