Most teens are responsible when it comes to sexuality, but lack of knowledge about sexually transmitted infections and their consequences is a concern, says a new study.
The research, published in the January issue of Pediatrics and Child Health, found that 27 per cent of teens were sexually active at a mean age of 15 years. The last time that they had sex, 76 per cent had used a condom, according to the findings.
"They don't know about many of the STIs that are common and they don't know about the consequences of the STIs," author Dr. Jean-Yves Frappier, head of the Adolescent Medicine Division at Sainte-Justine University Health Centre, said Monday from Montreal.
Five per cent of the sexually active teens said they had been diagnosed with an STI.The study found that at age 17, 45 per cent of those surveyed were sexually active, Frappier says. Among those who were not, 71 per cent of girls said they weren't ready, compared to 54 per cent of the boys.Twenty-nine per cent of the girls said they wanted to wait until marriage, compared to 13 per cent of the boys.
http://www.thestar.com/living/article/296743
The research, published in the January issue of Pediatrics and Child Health, found that 27 per cent of teens were sexually active at a mean age of 15 years. The last time that they had sex, 76 per cent had used a condom, according to the findings.
"They don't know about many of the STIs that are common and they don't know about the consequences of the STIs," author Dr. Jean-Yves Frappier, head of the Adolescent Medicine Division at Sainte-Justine University Health Centre, said Monday from Montreal.
Five per cent of the sexually active teens said they had been diagnosed with an STI.The study found that at age 17, 45 per cent of those surveyed were sexually active, Frappier says. Among those who were not, 71 per cent of girls said they weren't ready, compared to 54 per cent of the boys.Twenty-nine per cent of the girls said they wanted to wait until marriage, compared to 13 per cent of the boys.
http://www.thestar.com/living/article/296743
