23 Nov 2020

Let's talk about sex: Why teens' contraceptive use is dropping

From Nine To Noon, 9:07 am on 23 November 2020
Word writing text Sex Education.

Photo: 123RF

A survey of 7,500 Kiwi teens has found their sexual activity has dropped  - but so too has the use of condoms and other forms of contraception. The  just-released Youth19 Rangatahi Smart Survey found overall, the number of sexually active students who always wore condoms had dropped from 49 per cent two decades ago, to 41 per cent. The numbers were more stark when broken down by ethnicity: 42 percent of Maori and 30 percent of Pasifika reported using contraception consistently, compared to Pakeha - at 61 per cent. To talk about why condom and contraceptive use hasn't improved in 20 years, Kathryn talks to  the study's co-lead investigator, Associate Professor Terryann Clark, CEO of Family Planning Jackie Edmond and Christine Cammell, who's project lead for the School Nurses Association.

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Photo: Supplied