(iv)
ABSTRACT
Teenagers have the highest rate of sexually transmitted diseases of any age group. Factors responsible for this include sexual experimentation which often follows Initiation of intercourse and adolescenfs reluctance to use contraceptives. Teenagers are typically reluctant to consider the possibility that a potential sex partner may have a sexually transmitted disease and often lack the communication skills necessary to discuss this possibility, placing them
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at even greater risk of contracting one.
A large percentage of teenagers are engaging in risky sexual practices. Teenagers cite lack of sexual education from more reliable sources like their parents and schools. They receive most of their sexual information from their peers and the massive mass media. The information received from these sources is usually sensational and misleading.
Parents keep the children ignorant because they are of the opinion that less sexual knowledge will be more protecting. They fear that if they inform their children about sex they will go out and experiment. Therefore parents are not talking to their children about sex because most cultures and mostly in the Black community it is taboo to talk to children about sexual issues or matters. Therefore because of lack of sexual education teenagers are at risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancy, abortion, prostitution and sexual abuse.
Sexual education should start at an early age most preferably at nursery school level. If children are given factual information about sex they will know how to handle their sexuality. They will not be pressurised to indulge in pre-marital sex by their peers. Theretrel
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information should be provided by parents and schools as most teenagers prefer to receive their sex information from a more reliable source.
