WORLD CONTRACEPTION DAY 2012 IT’S YOUR FUTURE A LOOK AT YOUNG PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD AND THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARDS SEX AND CONTRACEPTION MEDIA REPORT (A REVIEW OF SURVEY DATA GATHERED BETWEEN 2009 AND 2011) SUPPORTED BY: CONTENT INTRODUCTION 3 LEVELS OF UNPROTECTED SEX 9 DIGGING DEEPER: REASONS BEHIND FAILURE TO USE CONTRACEPTION 13 MORE ABOUT WORLD CONTRACEPTION DAY 31 SURVEY METHODOLOGY 35 1 INTRODUCTION 2 3 INTRODUCTION DR. IMANE KHACHANI, JENNIFER WOODSIDE, PHYSICIAN, MOROCCO AND MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION WORLD CONTRACEPTION DAY (IPPF) YOUTH TASK FORCE The fi ndings of the World Contra- to contraception. Many didn’t discuss There have been some positive trends Looking at the research carried out When you’re young, the future can I work with practitioners and advocates ception Day surveys carried out over contraception with their partner before but there is still a great deal of work to for World Contraception Day over seem a very long way away, but from around the world to promote the past three years provide us with sex, while others found themselves be done. While it is encouraging that the past three years, what jumps that’s no reason not to plan for it. sexual and reproductive health and some startling facts about the young without any contraception when they belief in the withdrawal method as an out at me is the number of number The choices that young people make rights for everyone and especially people surveyed and their use of needed it most. Others said that they effective form of contraception has of survey participants who just today can have implications for for young people. I’m passionate contraception. The fi rst thing that didn’t use contraception because fallen, many misconceptions about sex don’t plan ahead when it comes to years —decades even—to come. They about this area because I know that I noticed was that, over the years, they or their partner doesn’t like it. and contraception are still widespread contraception. Whether they haven’t need to plan for the immediate future empowering people to take charge of there has been an increase in the For those of us striving to achieve and the number of young people who used contraception because they had as well as the long-term future. When their sexual and reproductive health number of young people failing to universal access to sexual health and consider themselves to be very well no idea about it, because they forgot, it comes to contraception this means is a huge step towards empowering use contraception with a new partner. reproductive services, the fact that a informed about contraception has were too embarrassed to discuss it discussing it with your partner before them to take control of their lives and This is a worrying fact and one which I signifi cant number of young people actually declined each year. with their partner, or because they having sex, choosing the right type of their futures. I believe that informed believe must be addressed as a priority cited lack of access to contraception On World Contraception Day 2012, didn’t have any to hand at the time, contraception for you and your partner, choice is a right. By not thinking ahead by young people, parents, teachers, as their reason for failing to use it we will urge young people to think these young people are jeopardizing and making sure that you always have when it comes to contraception, far and healthcare providers around is very worrying. Much of this lack about their futures and their choices their futures by not taking steps to contraception ready when sex is on too many young people risk losing that the world. But in order to tackle this of access was due to fears about and make informed decisions about make sure that they are prepared the cards. right. growing problem, we must understand parents fi nding out or embarrassment contraception. I hope that the day to use contraception to prevent an why young people are failing to use around talking about sex in general will also serve to remind those of unplanned pregnancy or STI. contraception. So why are these or discussing contraception with a us involved in advocating access to young people risking their futures by healthcare professional, demonstrating contraception and reproductive health having unprotected sex? that there is a great deal of work to be services to think about how we will done in ensuring that young people The reasons that come up time and carry on this important work and make VISIT WWW.YOUR-LIFE.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WORLD CONTRACEPTION are able to overcome these ‘invisible’ time again suggest that young people even more signifi cant progress in the DAY AND TO VIEW THE BLOGS AND VIDEOS FROM MEMBERS OF THE YOUTH TASK FORCE. aren’t thinking ahead when it comes barriers. future. 4 5 INTRODUCTION THE ‘IT’S YOUR FUTURE’ MEDIA REPORT EXPLORES WHAT DO THE FINDINGS TELL US? The findings tell us that the number of young people having unprotected sex with a new partner remains high. HOW YOUNG PEOPLE’S ATTITUDES TO SEX AND In many parts of the world—including France, the USA, and Great Britain —this problem appears to be getting CONTRACEPTION HAVE CHANGED OVER THE LAST significantly worse. THREE YEARS The data also give us some valuable insights into why these young people are risking their futures by engaging in this risky behavior: Between 2009 and 2011, an annual survey was carried out to explore young people’s sexual behavior, knowledge I didn’t plan ahead … about contraception, and attitudes towards sex and contraception. In total, the surveys interviewed 14,500 young people from 29 countries across Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and the USA. Around 200 people were • Whether they just forgot, didn’t have any contraception to hand, or hadn’t discussed safe sex with their partner, interviewed in each country each year and, while the sample size represents only a small proportion of the population not planning ahead is a key factor in failing to use contraception. of young people, the data generated from the survey provides some fascinating insights into how these individuals I couldn’t get hold of any contraception … think and behave when it comes to sex and contraception. • Even when contraception is readily available, young people may not be able to access it due to feelings of The aim of the ‘It’s Your Future’ report is to review the responses from the last three years and identify key insights embarrassment or the fear that parents or relatives will find out. and emerging trends. Specifically, it will look at whether levels of unprotected sex with new partners appear to be I don’t like contraception … increasing in any parts of the world and, if so, what is driving this risky behavior. The report contains an analysis of the responses young men and women (aged 15-30) gave to questions on these topics over the last three years, along • A cause for concern is the increase in several countries of people not using contraception with a new partner with commentaries on the findings from members of the World Contraception Day Non-Governmental Organization because they or the partner ‘doesn’t like’ contraception. (NGO) coalition and Youth Task Force (YTF). It won’t happen to me … • In spite of sex education being available in many countries, a worrying number of teens and young people still think that pregnancy and STIs will only happen to someone else. KNOW THE Facts … Despite the number of people who report having received some sort of sex education at school, the numbers who • The number of young people in the world has never been higher. In all, there are about one billion do not consider themselves well informed about contraception are surprisingly high, and a startling number hold 12 to 18 year olds. Almost nine out of ten live in the developing world.1 erroneous and potentially dangerous beliefs, such as that having sex during menstruation or that the ‘withdrawal • Worldwide, more than 41% of the 208 million pregnancies that occur each year are unintended.2 method’ will prevent an unplanned pregnancy. • At least two-thirds of all reported sexually transmissible infections occur among men and women The fact that so many of the young people surveyed were failing to think about their futures and use contraception for under the age of 25.3 reasons that, at first glance, seem preventable, underlines the need to prioritize sex education and initiatives to ensure • In total, 215 million women have an unmet need for modern contraception.4 that young people have access to the information and services they need. Behind these statistics are thousands of young people exposing themselves to the risk of unplanned pregnancy, STIs and, ultimately, to the loss of the futures • One in 20 adolescent girls get a bacterial infection through sexual contact every year and the age they have planned for themselves. Further research is needed to delve more deeply into the issues that are fuelling 5 at which infections are acquired is becoming younger and younger. this behavior and to gain an accurate picture of what is happening on the ground in each of the countries surveyed. Better understanding will be a key step in the delivery of better solutions to the problem. It is also worth remembering that in many countries around the world, young people still do not have access to contraception, sex education, or family planning services at all. 6 7 LEVELS OF UNPROTECTED SEX 8 9 LEVELS OF UNPROTECTED SEX There has been little change over the last three years in the age at which young people become sexually active.