Perceptions of Young Adolescent Sexual Activity Are Greatly Exaggerated - Essay Example

 “Very few early adolescents (both boys and girls) are sexually active. (0.6% of 10-year-olds, 1.1% of 11-year-olds and 2.4% of 12-year-olds.) This is a trend that has been known for quite a several decades now. Young adolescents have not been participating in active sex as their behavior may indicate. In the final stages of adolescent development of teens, young adult seems to be more engaged in sexual activity. In the present adolescent cohorts, the probability of practicing sexual activities in given age cohorts is greatly lower than in the past time, for instance, 25 years ago. This is because there is a delayed start of sexual practices.

This study contradicts the way media and policy developers and implementers approach the topic. More often than not they give reports suggesting that young adolescents, at the age of 10-11 years are actively engaged in sex. Most likely this is because they do not research to unveil the information that is on the ground instead of giving speculations and assumptions concerning teen sexuality. From the data which has been collected by researchers, their hypothesis is not supported at all. Modern teens wait until they are mature to start having sex (Lawrence & Jesse, 2013). At this age, they use contraceptives to avoid contracting sexually transmitted diseases and at the same time prevent early and unplanned pregnancy.

Frequent and routine education is conducted by most non-governmental organizations, parents, teachers, and even governments through organized forums. This effort has equipped older teens with knowledge and skills in using contraceptives appropriately. What is unique is that the community still views this valuable education to be an encouragement to promiscuity among teens. They don’t see it from the positive side that it is helping the youth to know how they can have safer sex and hence prevent themselves from sexually transmitted diseases. Due to this perception, most people (parents and guardians) especially from the rural and semi-urban areas in developing nations are opposing this education. According to their claims, it is eroding the sanity of their traditions, norms, practices, and beliefs that they have exalted for decades.

The study found that sex among young teens is not voluntary. A majority of the youth who had their first sex at the age of 10 to 11 were forced into this act. “Sixty-two percent of females who had had sex by age 10 said that their first sex was coerced, as did 50% of those who had had sex by age 11. The authors argue that coerced sex warrants attention in and of itself” (Lawrence & Jesse, 2013). This is supported by the fact that the reproductive system of young adolescents is not developed enough to arouse the urge to for sex.

Lawrence and Jesse suggest that young teens should be educated on sexuality and contraceptive use at their early stages. The appropriate people who should teach these young teens on this topic are their parents or guardians, teachers, professionals of adolescent health, and pediatricians. This is a topic that should not be neglected for keeping teens healthy. Continued provision of sexual information and other services they may need for protection when they are active sexually is a significant objective of public health (Lawrence & Jesse, 2013).

Previously I had known that it is imperatively significant for both young and older teens to be educated about sexual matters. The major reason that made me have this in mind is that I thought teens are the most sexually active people. In addition to that, it is meant to keep them healthy and equip them with knowledge of preventing unnecessary pregnancy. Another thing concerning the topic that I knew is that a majority of the present teens start sexual activities early the teens of the past of the same cohort.
I also was not left behind concerning this crucial topic in that I had the wrong information.

This one shows how wrongly we interpret things and situations when we depend on information coming from media and organizations that want to use unconfirmed information for their benefit. It is quite shocking to realize that young adolescents rarely practice sex. Unlike older adolescents who are actively involved in sexual activities. I did not have a glimpse of the importance of teaching adolescents about contraceptive use at an early age. I have learned that it is meant to prepare them for future use when they will need the services. Most adolescents of the present time delay in starting their sexual practices. This is a new thing that I did not know. Moreover, it is significant that the community gets to know this.

Health professionals in collaboration with all the aforementioned stakeholders can greatly improve the outcome of adolescents’ health by recognizing the higher probability of practicing nonconsensual sex, educating, and providing contraceptives before they become sexually active while they are young teens. Read More