Q: Does giving sex education to adolescents encourage sexual activity?
Absolutely
not! Many studies show that sex education promotes responsible
attitudes and behaviour. These studies also show that providing
adolescents with information and services on reproductive and sexual
health enables them to better resist peer pressure and postpone the
onset of sexual activity and encourages them to have fewer partners.
When these young people do engage in sex, they are more likely to
protect themselves from pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections,
including HIV. This was reaffirmed by UNAIDS findings released in May
2006, showing that education has led to delayed sexual debut and
increased use of condoms in several areas, which is tied to a decrease
in HIV prevalence in young people.
