[afro-nets] Oral sex safe and not really sex - study (6)

[Ruth Hope <RHope@s-3.com>]

Oral sex safe and not really sex - study (6)
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It seems to me that the situation in the United States regarding
young people and oral sex - and also heterosexual anal sex
though this was not reported in the news item from Chicago - is
a direct result from messages concerned with preserving virgin-
ity for marriage and just saying "no" to sexual intercourse.

This situation may not be unique to the USA. I have experience
of youth reporting anal sex as "safe" because it does not result
in pregnancy in Guyana, Jamaica and Zimbabwe.

This indicates the urgent need for quality sexual health educa-
tion that teaches youth about maintaining their sexual and re-
productive health. This has to be holistic and grounded in real-
ity - addressing the pressures on youth from the media, peers,
poverty, materialism, their own changing feelings and sexual
urges. Sexual health education needs to be led by teachers com-
fortable with talking about sexuality and able to address the
wide range of sexual behaviours, not just hetero-sexual penetra-
tive intercourse.

Reproductive and sexual health is not limited to preserving the
hymen and avoiding pregnancy.

Yours truly,

Ruth Hope
Senior Technical Specialist
Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., an employee-owned company
The Synergy Project, (http://www.SynergyAIDS.com)
SSS/1101 Vermont Ave NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20005
Tel: +1-202-842-2939 ext.183
Fax: +1-202-842-7650
mailto:rhope@s-3.com
http://www.s-3.com