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Teens In UK Do Not Know How To Use A Condom

by Medindia Content Team on Aug 10 2006 12:25 AM

A new study has reported that there were many teenagers in Britain who knew as to how to effectively use a condom.

The study had shown that several of the teens had admitted that they either put the condom on too late or take it off too early. They explained that teenagers with their lack of knowledge of sing the condoms were exposing themselves o the risks of pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STI).

The study that has been published in the Journal Sexually Transmitted Infections was encouraged by the glitch that while pregnancies in teenagers were reducing the rates of sexually transmitted disease are rising. Professor Roger Ingham, of the Centre for Public Health Research, at the University of Southampton, who lead the study and his team of researchers, had surveyed less than about 1,400 teenagers aged 16 to 18 across England. They found that almost half of them had reported to have sex, and that of the 373 teenagers who had used a condom in their recent occasion 6% had put it on too late and a further 6% had removed it to early.

They found that most of the teenagers expressed as the most common reasons on not wearing condoms was to enhance intimacy, as they felt that sex was better without one, because other contraceptive devices were being used, or because couples got carried away. They further found in their study that those who did use one was mainly because they wanted to avoid pregnancy, or so as not to make a mess, and to make sex last longer.

While they found that only a few actually said that using a condom could help in the prevention of STI’s. The researchers stated that they found that boys who were able communicate quite frankly with their mothers in their early teenage years were more likely to use condoms correctly. The researchers said, “If we are to see a reduction in sexually transmitted infection prevalence, it is essential that young people understand the importance of using condoms consistently and correctly, and are also equipped with the skills and knowledge to do so.

Toni Belfield, of the Family Planning Association (FPA), said, “This research continues to reinforce the message that young people need good information and support to use condoms correctly and consistently. Good communication with a trusted adult is an essential part of this support. We would urge parents and carers to be open about sex and relationships with their children, so they can be a source of guidance for them.”


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