What do young people want?
Studies show that young people generally want information about safer sex including but not exclusively about abstinence. In a regional study conducted by AMREF in four countries in sub-Saharan Africa, communities identified the most critical adolescent sexual and reproductive health needs as:
- provision of accurate information
- poverty alleviation
- comprehensive sex education in schools
- provision of appropriate health care.
Evidence also suggests that the behaviour and opinions of adults, including parents, other relatives, role models and the wider community, have a strong influence on young people's sexual knowledge and behaviour. One study in Cameroon found that young males who felt they had parental support for condom use were 1.6 times more likely to have used condoms, and young females were 2.6 times more likely
Recommended readings
- With one voice 2002: America’s adults and teens sound off about teen pregnancy
- ( The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy , 2002)
- This document reports the results of a survey conducted by the National Campaign to Prevent Teenage Pregnancy, which explores what both American adults and teenagers think about teenage pregnancy and ...
- What’s the use? Condom use among youth in urban Cameroon
- ( Dominique Meekers;Megan Klein / id21 Development Research Reporting Service , 2002)
- In Cameroon, as in many sub-Saharan African countries, high-risk sexual activity is common among young people. A third of women aged 15-19 are pregnant or have had children, and a similar fraction of ...
