Delhi teens get sex but they don't play safe

STARTING YOUNG: Health care experts want teachers to guide children on safe sex.

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Keywords: Condoms, Sex Education

New Delhi: People who oppose sex education on the ground that it may corrupt the youth just got a wake-up call.

One in 10 teenagers from affluent families in South Delhi has had sex and 50 percent of them have had multiple sex partners, says a survey conducted by a government agency.

One in four boys admitted to having sex before 13, but the survey’s most shocking finding was that teenagers and their partners do not use any form of protection.

The University College of Medical Sciences discovered these figures during a survey at two colleges and three schools in south Delhi. Community health experts and doctors says the figures reflect changing values in the society and in the Indian family.

“The exposure that adolescents get about what is happening in relationships and sexuality worldwide tends to de-sensitise them and almost makes them want to try it out,” says Dr Samir Parikh, psychiatrist at Max Hospital.

The World Health Organisation estimates around 70 percent of premature deaths among adults are due to behavioural patterns developed during adolescence. These include smoking, violence and sexual behaviour. Schools are the best place to teach youth about safe sex and health.

As Dr Achal Bhagat, psychiatrist at Apollo Hospital, says: “The education system must talk more about life, as opposed to talking about just sexuality or even geography.”

“Education needs to be done primarily through parents and trained teachers,” says Dr Parikh.