Dutch researchers call for sex education in primary schools
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《英国医生杂志》
Dutch researchers are calling for more primary school sex education after a study of sexual behaviour that shows that more teenagers are having sex than 10 years ago, and they are starting younger.
The report, produced by two Dutch sexual health organisations, concludes that it is important for teenagers?sexual health to have a "warm family environment." Teenagers who received help and affection from their parents had less experience of sex, were more competent at negotiating with sexual partners, used contraception better, and were less likely to be forced into sex.
This first large scale study since 1995 included responses from 5000 12 to 25 year olds. It aims to mould health promotion policies in a country where teenage abortion rates are among the lowest in Europe but have been rising. Researchers stress that sexual health is generally good but recommend the targeting of specific ethnic, religious, educational, and age groups.
The study shows that, compared with 1995, more Dutch secondary schoolchildren are having sex—30% as opposed to 24%. The survey found that the average age at which teenagers start experiencing sex is falling and that today抯 teenagers have more liberal views than they did 10 years ago. One in four teenagers believes that casual sex is acceptable, rather than one in six in 1995.
Contraception is more widely used, with 46% compared with 36% in 1995 using the contraceptive pill, and 79% compared to 69% using condoms during their first sexual experience. The youngest group, children aged 12 to 14, remain vulnerable to pregnancy, however. A total of 7% had had sexual intercourse, and out of this group, almost a third of boys and almost one in five of girls did not use contraception with their last partner.
Several groups were identified as particularly vulnerable. These included girls from the Surinam or Dutch Antilles ethnic groups, who had relatively higher rates of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases; Christian youth with strong religious convictions, who were less likely to use contraception during their first sexual intercourse; and less well educated teenagers who were more likely to have sexual intercourse and unwanted pregnancies.
The study shows that schools are the most important and reliable source of information, with more than 90% of teenagers receiving information there. But the researchers stress too the importance of the family environment by looking at the correlation between sexual behaviour and a variety of psychosocial factors. Young people who received affection, help, and support from parents at home had less experience of sexual intercourse and anal sex, were more competent at negotiating with sexual partners, used contraception better, and were less likely to be forced into sex.
Hanneke de Graaf, author of the study, argues that offering some form of sex education from the age of six has benefits. "You don抰 have to talk about condoms but about changing bodies, the differences between boys and girls, and how to make it clear to others what you do and don抰 want." For a small but high risk group who become sexually active young she argued, "We want to get sex education to this group before they become sexually active."
Though estimated teenage abortion rates in 15-19 year olds have doubled since 1992, to 8.2 per 1000, that rate was low compared with certain other European countries, such as England and Wales, where the rate for that age group is 23 per 1000.(Utrecht Tony Sheldon)
The report, produced by two Dutch sexual health organisations, concludes that it is important for teenagers?sexual health to have a "warm family environment." Teenagers who received help and affection from their parents had less experience of sex, were more competent at negotiating with sexual partners, used contraception better, and were less likely to be forced into sex.
This first large scale study since 1995 included responses from 5000 12 to 25 year olds. It aims to mould health promotion policies in a country where teenage abortion rates are among the lowest in Europe but have been rising. Researchers stress that sexual health is generally good but recommend the targeting of specific ethnic, religious, educational, and age groups.
The study shows that, compared with 1995, more Dutch secondary schoolchildren are having sex—30% as opposed to 24%. The survey found that the average age at which teenagers start experiencing sex is falling and that today抯 teenagers have more liberal views than they did 10 years ago. One in four teenagers believes that casual sex is acceptable, rather than one in six in 1995.
Contraception is more widely used, with 46% compared with 36% in 1995 using the contraceptive pill, and 79% compared to 69% using condoms during their first sexual experience. The youngest group, children aged 12 to 14, remain vulnerable to pregnancy, however. A total of 7% had had sexual intercourse, and out of this group, almost a third of boys and almost one in five of girls did not use contraception with their last partner.
Several groups were identified as particularly vulnerable. These included girls from the Surinam or Dutch Antilles ethnic groups, who had relatively higher rates of unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases; Christian youth with strong religious convictions, who were less likely to use contraception during their first sexual intercourse; and less well educated teenagers who were more likely to have sexual intercourse and unwanted pregnancies.
The study shows that schools are the most important and reliable source of information, with more than 90% of teenagers receiving information there. But the researchers stress too the importance of the family environment by looking at the correlation between sexual behaviour and a variety of psychosocial factors. Young people who received affection, help, and support from parents at home had less experience of sexual intercourse and anal sex, were more competent at negotiating with sexual partners, used contraception better, and were less likely to be forced into sex.
Hanneke de Graaf, author of the study, argues that offering some form of sex education from the age of six has benefits. "You don抰 have to talk about condoms but about changing bodies, the differences between boys and girls, and how to make it clear to others what you do and don抰 want." For a small but high risk group who become sexually active young she argued, "We want to get sex education to this group before they become sexually active."
Though estimated teenage abortion rates in 15-19 year olds have doubled since 1992, to 8.2 per 1000, that rate was low compared with certain other European countries, such as England and Wales, where the rate for that age group is 23 per 1000.(Utrecht Tony Sheldon)