Teens Having High Levels of Sex Without Contraceptives, Survey Says
An international study into sexual behavior practices found that teens and young adults are having high levels of sex without contraceptives.
The survey involved nearly 5,500 people between the ages of 15 and 24 in 26 countries.
The Bayer Healthcare-sponsored survey released Monday entitled was entitled “Clueless or Clued Up: Your Right to be informed about contraception."
The report found the number of people having sex without contraception with a new partner since 2009 increased 111 percent in France, 39 percent in the United States and 19 percent in the United Kingdom.
Contraceptives include oral contraceptives, condoms, diaphragms, injectable contraceptives, intra-uterine devices, implants, spermicides and vaginal foaming tablets, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, which was not one of the sponsors of the survey.
"No matter where you are in the world, barriers exist which prevent teenagers from receiving trustworthy information about sex and contraception, which is probably why myths and misconceptions remain so widespread even today," a member of the WCD task force, Denise Keller, said in a statement released with the results of the study.
Over half of the people surveyed in china, Estonia, Kenya, Korea, Norway and Thailand reported having sex unprotected at least once.
Forty-two percent of respondents in the Asia Pacific region, along with 28 percent of Europeans, said they could not get a hold of contraceptives while indicating they were too embarrassed ask a healthcare professional about it.
The third annual survey following safe sex practices amongst teens was released in preparation for World Contraceptive Day, a global initiative to fight problems caused by unplanned pregnancies.
The report indicates that 55 percent of young people surveyed across Europe received sex education. In Egypt only 12 percent were taught.
In contrast, a much higher percentage of people in Latin America, Asia Pacific, and the United States received sex education in school at the rates of 78 percent, 76 percent and 74 percent respectively.
Among the myths and misconceptions highlighted was the belief that a shower after sex would prevent a pregnancy. Thirty six percent of responders in Egypt, and 19 percent in Singapore believed that.
"What young people are telling us is that they are not receiving enough sex education or the wrong type of information about sex and sexuality," spokeswoman for the International Planned Parenthood Federation, Jennifer Woodside said.
Ten groups, including International Planned Parenthood Federation, and the United States Agency for International Development, are supporting the survey.