Youngsters Turn Sexually Active BY 16, But Condom Use is Still Ignored

A study has found that most youngsters make their sexual debut at the average age of 16, but only half use condoms.

The survey on the sexual habits, attitudes and knowledge of young people, was carried out by the University of Gothenburg on behalf of the Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control.

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Swedish teens seem to be indifferent to the need for safe sex. Youngsters there could be just 16 years old and sober when they make their sexual debut.

"We have to get young people to view condoms as an essential part of having sex," Ronny Heikki Tikkanen, one of the researchers behind the study which polled 15,000 young people between the ages of 15 and 29 right across Sweden, said.

"The fact that so many don't use condoms, even though they know that they offer protection against both STIs and unwanted pregnancies, shows how important it is to work on attitudes and behaviour," Tikkanen explained.

The survey clearly demonstrates that those who start having sex at a young age and are generally inclined to take risks with alcohol and drugs are also likely to do so with sex.

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It is also more common for risk-takers to have accepted payment for sex.

Those identified by the study as having exposed themselves to sexual risks have generally encountered HIV prevention initiatives without them having impacted notably on their behaviour.

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"We've got to get better at identifying youngsters who take risks," Margareta Forsberg, R and D manager at the Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control, said.

"We also need to be more aware of the link between sexual risks, drugs and social exclusion.

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"If we can come up with support structures at an early stage, we stand a better chance of promoting sexual health, self-esteem and well-being," she stated.

The researchers behind the study are now calling for new methods and strategies for preventive work on sexuality and health for young people.

"Young people want sexual health clinics to be readily accessible, condoms to be distributed at various meeting places and the Internet to be used more widely for advice and support," Jonna Abelsson, assistant researcher at the University of Gothenburg, said.

"The study offers guidance on the types of initiative that are viable for youngsters.

"We need to think about whether we're going about things the right way when it comes to reaching those who most need advice and support," Abelsson added.

Source-ANI