Failure to cut teenage pregnancy
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sex education is too little and too late, and is failing Britain's young people, claim the authors of research published today. More open discussion of sex could cut teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, delay the average age that youngsters become sexually active and lead to better use of contraceptives, according to a survey funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.
The authors of the report called for the provision of more family planning clinics geared specifically towards young people, and dealing with controversial issues like homosexuality and abortion.
Comparison of British and Dutch youngsters showed that those in the Netherlands - where teenage pregnancy rates are considerably lower - had earlier and more open sex education, both in the home and at school. The Dutch youngsters had more confidence discussing sex, contraception and the dangers of HIV with partners before intercourse and had more close friends of the opposite sex.
The survey involved 280 interviews and an analysis of more than 17,500 teenage pregnancies in the Wessex area between 1991 and 1994.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments