Wednesday, January 30, 2008

A Study of the Sexual Health Awareness Level Vs. The Prevalence of Sexual Activities Among Teenagers and Young Adults

Young Adults (roughly, those aged 15 to 24) comprise about 18 per cent of the total population in the Philippines, an important segment of the population given their future participation in the nation's economy and political scene. Young adults face many risks in relation to sex and sexuality: premarital pregnancies that often lead to early marriage; sexually-transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS .

In ASIA, adolescents are turning increasingly to risky sexual behavior according to the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO regional chief Shigeru Omi said that while “social norms regarding sexual activity and sexual behavior have changed . . . [the] environment to support the adolescents to face these changes has not.”

The WHO cited studies in the Philippines that showed 23 percent of people between 15 and 24 years old had engaged in premarital sex, 70 percent of them without using contraceptives.

Adolescents are not informed about how best to avoid risky behavior that leads to unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, pregnancy-related complications and sexually transmitted diseases. Acceptable, affordable and appropriate sexual health information and services were also lacking, while poverty and unemployment put adolescents in a vulnerable position .

Young adults all tend to see themselves as decent, hence the risk of STDs and HIV/AIDS are distanced. These are problems of other people such as the sex workers and promiscuous individuals. Since risk is seen mainly as danger, the overriding concern is detecting these potential problems and dangers. This can be a search for signs and symptoms of illness, which is actually dangerous since physical sign and symptoms are often not present in STDs, including HIV/AIDS.



STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM


The main concern of this study is to assess the perception of third and fourth year students in selected Nursing schools in Lucena City regarding the adequacy of sexual health knowledge of Teenagers and Young Adults vs. the incidence of their sexual activities.

The study sought to answer the following questions:

1. What is the demographic profile of the respondents in terms of their:
  • age
  • gender
  • civil status
  • school
2. What is the respondents' perception regarding the degree of sexual health awareness of Teenagers and Young Adults?

3. What is the rate and frequency of sexual activities among Teenagers and Young Adults as perceived by the respondents?

4. What is the respondent's perception regarding the prevalence of unsafe sexual practices among Teenagers and Young Adults?

5. What particular methods are used by Teenagers and Young Adults to protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases as perceived by the respondents?

6. What are the factors that influence Teenagers and Young Adults to engage in sexual activities?

7. What is the perception of respondents regarding the measures taken by the various units of society to increase sexual health awareness?

8. What general implications could be derived from this study?


HYPOTHESES

The study is based on the supposition that:

1. Nursing Students may perceive the knowledge scope of teenagers and young adults regarding sexual health as variable. As such, the narrowness or extensiveness of such information may also be associated in the subjects' inclination to engage in sexual intercourse.

2. Nursing Students are inclined to view the incidence of unsafe sexual activities/practices among Teenagers and Young Adults as becoming more rampant, which may largely be attributed to the respondents' perception of the subjects' inadequate sexual health knowledge.

3. Nursing Students may perceive Teenagers and Young Adults as more concerned with preventing unwanted pregnancy hence they may resort to methods which will primarily address such concern, consequently making them more prone to view sexual health as less important.

4. Various environmental factors bearing direct and indirect connotation about the pleasure of sex may be luring the younger generation to try or give in to their physiological desires. These messages, blatant or subliminal, may be appealing to their young minds due to their lack of experiences and maturity level

5. The clash of ideas and standpoints presented by the different units of society may be viewed as confounding and/or unbalanced. In particular, the dilemma of addressing the current problem and holding on to our predominantly conservative and religious upbringing may draw a setback in increasing sexual health awareness.


Copyright © 2007 MR Lusterio
All Rights Reserved

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