FED:Young people favour friends for sex info

AAP General News (Australia)
08-12-2010
FED:Young people favour friends for sex info

Eds: Embargoed until 0001 AEST Thursday, August 12



CANBERRA, Aug 12 AAP - Young people are more likely to talk to friends about sex and
their bodies, but favour doctors when it comes to issues such as contraception, a new
survey has revealed.

The survey by Family Planning NSW and online networking website MySpace Australia polled
more than 1000 people aged between 12 and 24 in June and July about where they went for
sex and puberty-related information.

When it came to body changes, more than 50 per cent of respondents said they spoke
to their friends, 45 per cent used the internet and 33 per cent talked to their parents
or schools.

Similarly, when wanting information on sexual activities, nearly half of all of those
surveyed said they went to friends too.

Partners and the internet was the next most common source, used by more than 33 per
cent of respondents, while schools came in last, with about 20 per cent choosing this
option.

However, on the subject of contraception, doctors were the most commonly used source
(48 per cent), while parents and the internet only attracted a third of respondents.

About half of young people polled preferred their GP for information on sexual health
matters, and parents and schools were likely to be used by just under a quarter of respondents.

AAP bsb/apm

KEYWORD: SEX (EMBARGOED)

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