Teens with unfriendly parents may turn to sex

If you are a parent of an adolescent and wouldn’t describe your relationship with your child as friendly, here’s news that will make you sit up. A recent study conducted by behavioural scientists at Pune’s National Aids Research Institute (Nari) on sex initiation and their correlates found that adolescents who shared an unfriendly relationship with their parents had higher likelihood of early sex initiation.The researchers interviewed 901 students across six schools and junior colleges in the city in the age group of 12 years to 19 years. A subset of 205 students was then selected for an in-depth case study.Of these 205 students, 41 admitted having initiated sex with either a boy or girl.“Despite the evidence of sexual activity among adolescents, our state which has high prevalence of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STD) doesn’t have a sex education policy in schools. In fact, some chapters of biology are taught but not until Std XI. Hence we decided to conduct this study not only to record the fact that early sex initiation between adolescents exists, but record the correlates of such behaviour and also study the information gap among these adolescents,” said Dr Seema Sahay, senior scientist and principal investigator of the study.Of the 910 students, 53 % were boys and the rest girls. Of these, 35 students reported sexual abuse and 41 reported having initiated sex.Besides, a majority of adolescents expressed the need for obtaining more information on contraception method (78 %) and HIV/AIDS (81 %). Nearly half of the adolescents were aware of abortion (49 %) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) (55 %), but only 16% had correct knowledge of symptoms of STDs.However, what researchers studied in great detail were the correlates of early sex initiation. “We found a few behavioural patterns in early sex initiation. For example, adolescents who accessed pornography, didn’t read scientific literature on sexual health, smoked cigarettes were more likely to have initiated sex,” said Sahay.“The most important find was that adolescents who were reported to have unfriendly relations with their parents had higher likelihood of initiation of sex,” added Sahay.Stating that the study points towards a need for a comprehensive sex educational programme in schools at an early age, Sahay added that the team of scientists had developed such a tool as well based on these findings.“Even as school-based reproductive and sexual health programme is controversial in our state, such education might play an important role in creating awareness among children and ensuring safety of the adolescents. Observations of the study like three times more likelihood of sex initiation among students who accessed pornography compared to those who did not, shows this need. We need confidential health check-ups in schools assisted with cognitive interviews to probe into symptoms of STDs, non-consensual sex and other risky practices such as smoking, alcohol and narcotic drug use to be routine,” said Sahay, adding that programmes need to focus on responsible parent-adolescent communication and involve counselling of parents as well.Nari study findsEarly sex initiation is done by adolescents who: Share unfriendly relationship with parents.Access pornography.Don’t read scientific literature on sexual health..Smoke cigarettes.Most adolescents express need for more information on contraception method (78 %) and HIV/AIDS (81 %). Only 16% had correct knowledge of symptoms of STDsStudy recommends: Confidential regular health check-ups in schools assisted with cognitive interviews to probe into symptoms of STDs, non-consensual sex and other risky practices such as smoking, alcohol and narcotic drug use