New multi-national youth survey reveals current attitudes and behaviour surrounding contraception
International organisations with an interest in sexual health, actors, musicians, TV presenters and bloggers* unite on World Contraception Day to encourage open, accurate conversations about sex and contraception
London, September 26 2009: On World Contraception Day 2009, a coalition of ten international organisations with an interest in sexual health and a newly formed Youth Task Force*, launch one of the first ever multi-national surveys exploring young people’s attitudes towards sex and contraception. Results show that amongst young people across Asia Pacific, Europe and North America, more than one in three (36%) have had unprotected sex, putting them at risk of unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STI’s).
Over one third are not talking contraception with their current sexual partner before having sex (35%), over one third believe highly unreliable contraceptive methods – such as the ‘withdrawal method’ – are effective (36%), and one in five are using unreliable contraceptive methods (19%), across the three regions.
The new multi-national survey, entitled: ‘ Talking Sex and Contraception: What Young People Around the World Told Us’ assessed how communication amongst 15-24 year olds and those around them impacts their sexual activity and their understanding and usage of contraception. The survey was carried out in two parts: the first involved 15 countries and 3,230 young people in Asia Pacific, Europe and North America1 and the second part was carried out in three Latin American countries by MTV using MySpace and a TV debate centred around the sexual behavior in those regions, and involved 2,956 young people.2
Tony Kerridge, Spokesperson for Marie Stopes International, supporting World Contraception Day, said “These results reinforce the need to ensure universal access to the right information and good quality health services. The consequences of an unplanned pregnancy can be devastating at any age, but young people in particular may feel unable to start a conversation about contraception to establish the facts, whether it is with their parents, healthcare professional or even their sexual partner. It’s only by encouraging a more open dialogue at every life stage that we will start to break down these barriers and enable women and their partners to make informed choices about their contraception needs”.
The survey follows a recent investigation amongst British women which uncovered a bewildering range of myths relating to contraception, and the contraceptive pill in particular.3 Whilst the common belief is that young people are least likely to have all the facts relating to sex and contraception, the contraception myths research actually highlighted that older women believe more myths than younger women. The importance of sex education was also underlined, with those women that have received it showing a better understanding of the facts about contraception.
World Contraception Day 2009, under the motto ‘Your life, Your voice: Talk contraception’, focuses on the need to encourage young people to talk to people they trust, so they have all the information they need to prevent an unplanned pregnancy or sexually transmitted infection (STI).
Balanced, factual information about a range of contraceptive options can be found on the comprehensive new website www.contraception.co.uk which was recently launched by leading contraception manufacturer Bayer Schering Pharma. To coincide with the launch of World Contraception Day, a Top 10 list of questions for women to take along to their next contraception consultation has been made available for downloading.
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For further information, please contact:
Nicole Moores
Cohn & Wolfe
Tel: 0207 331 5337
E-mail: Nicole.moores@cohnwolfe.com
Notes to editors:
* Youth Task Force
The ‘Youth Task Force’ (YTF), has come together for the first time to encourage young people to talk to people they trust about sex and contraception. The YTF has been established to provide a ‘credible’ and ‘trusted’ voice to speak to young people and is made up of well known, passionate and open-minded young people from around the world, specifically selected because they already inspire young people.
The Youth Task Force members are listed below:
• Brooke Brodack, video blogger, USA
• Claire Oelkers, actress and TV presenter, Germany
• Denise Keller, TV presenter, Singapore
• Diana Angel, actress and singer, Colombia
• Mia Lee, video blogger, China
• Phelipe Cruz, journalist and blogger, Brazil
• Stuart Heritage, blogger, UK.
World Contraception Day (WCD)
World Contraception Day takes place in September every year. The annual worldwide campaign centres around a vision for a world where every pregnancy is wanted. Launched in 2007, WCD’s mission is to improve awareness of contraception to enable young people to make informed decisions on their sexual and reproductive health.
Under the motto ‘Your Life, Your Voice: Talk Contraception’, the aim of the 2009 WCD campaign is to encourage young people to talk to people they trust so they have all the information they need to prevent an unplanned pregnancy or sexually transmitted infection (STI). The campaign is aimed at young people, as they are often the most inexperienced in using contraception.
WCD is supported by a coalition of 10 international NGOs and scientific and medical societies with an interest in sexual health and is sponsored by Bayer Schering Pharma.
The NGOs and societies involved in WCD are:
• Asian Pacific Council on Contraception (APCOC)
• Centro Latinamericano Salud y Mujer (CELSAM)
• European Society of Contraception and Reproductive Health (ESC)
• German Foundation for World Population (DSW)
• International Federation of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (FIGIJ)
• International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF)
• Marie Stopes International (MSI)
• Pan American Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF)
• The Population Council
• The United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Bayer Schering Pharma AG
Bayer Schering Pharma AG is a worldwide leading speciality pharmaceutical company. Its research and business activities are focused on the following areas: Diagnostic Imaging, General Medicine, Speciality Medicine and Women’s Healthcare. With innovative products, Bayer Schering Pharma AG aims for leading positions in specialized markets worldwide. Using new ideas, Bayer Schering Pharma AG aims to make a contribution to medical progress and strives to improve quality of life.
Bayer Schering Pharma’s Women’s Healthcare portfolio includes a range of medicines to accompany women through important phases of their lives; including oral and non-oral contraceptives as well as specialist gynaecological management products.
Find more information at www.bayerscheringpharma.co.uk
References
1. Bayer Schering Pharma. Data on file. Talking Sex and Contraception Survey. TNS Healthcare. July 2009
2. Bayer Schering Pharma. Data on file. Usage and Knowledge about Contraceptives. MTV. March - June 2009
3. Online survey of 1,000 women undertaken by independent market research company Opinion Health. May 2009
Categories: Contraception; Young people
25/09/2009