Create awareness among youth

With China's rapid development and changing social values, young people's needs for sexual and reproductive health information and services are growing as behaviors change.

Young people today are exposed to increasing reproductive health risks, including unsafe sex, unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections including HIV and various forms of sexual exploitation and violence.

With support from United Nations Population Fund and the National Working Committee on Children and Women under the State Council, Peking University conducted the first national survey on access and utilization of sexual and reproductive health services by youth aged 15-24. The survey sample represented the country's 164 million unmarried youth in the same age group.

Findings from the survey indicate the need for young people to access appropriate information and services in sexual and reproductive health has been largely unmet. For example, the study showed that about 60 percent of unmarried youth are open to having sex before marriage; 22.4 percent have had sex, and over half of them did not use any contraceptive method during their first sex act.

Among female youth who have had sex, 20 percent had unplanned pregnancies, and 91 percent of them resorted to abortion. Only 4.4 percent of youth were well informed about reproductive health and 14.4 percent had correct knowledge about preventing HIV infection.

China's family planning services have traditionally focused on married couples, not unmarried youth. To improve young people's access to sexual and reproductive health information and services, a multi-sectoral approach must be taken.

A network must be formed among the ministries of education, health, family planning as well as youth leagues, women's groups, and the business sector to provide services and information on sexual and reproductive health to young people, especially out-of-school youth and migrant youth.

Young people stand at the center of the solution. What are the most needed information and services and how can they reach young people in the most effective manner?

Young people must be consulted and respected when developing policies and youth-friendly services aimed at protecting them from sexual and reproductive health risks.

Policy makers and service providers must form a partnership with young people and work hand in hand in closing the existing gaps.

Dr Bernard Coquelin is the United Nations Population Fund representative in China.

(China Daily 06/01/2011 page10)