- News>
- Newspapers
Gen X finds condoms dull: The Times of India
New Delhi, Nov 29: Why are youngsters condom-shy? Can sex with a virgin cure AIDS? Do only drug-addicts get AIDS? A startling study provides the answers.
New Delhi, Nov 29: Why are youngsters condom-shy? Can sex with a virgin cure AIDS? Do only drug-addicts get AIDS? A startling study provides the answers.
A survey, ‘Staying Alive 2003 Global Sexual Behaviour Survey’, released by MTV Networks in conjunction with the AIDS Epidemic Update report issued by UNAIDS and the World Health Organisation, reveals that 90 per cent of the young people worldwide know that condoms help prevent HIV/AIDS, but are not using them always.
More alarming is the fact that far less youths are actually following through. Only half of the respondents said they used condoms the first time they had sex; over 70 per cent of the respondents who had more than one sexual partner in the past six months did not always use a condom.
"This alarming fact shows that there is a huge difference between knowledge and the reality of young educated people actually protecting themselves," says Bill Roedy, President of MTV Networks International, and Ambassador, UNAIDS.
"We need to remind young people that protecting themselves against this disease needs to become a daily habit like eating, drinking and sleeping," Roedy adds.
The survey, conducted with international research partners Online Testing Exchange (OTX) and Ciao AG, had over 9,000 respondents in 29 countries. The survey indicates sexual behaviour trends among 14-34 year-olds on HIV/AIDS awareness, including condom use, stigma and discrimination, trusted sources of information and sexual history.
Back home, our youngsters share similar thoughts. "Of course we are all aware of the deadly disease and the use of condoms. But it all depends on the person I am having sex with," says says Rishab Kapoor, 20, a Third Year college student. "If I know that my partner is safe, I would have sex without a condom, but won't risk it with a new one," he adds.
Vishal Gupta, 27, on the other hand, "certainly enjoys sex more without a condom, but normally uses one".
AIDS activist Nafisa Ali agrees with the findings. "It is the same scenario with our educated youth in India, when we go to schools and colleges. The reason being they feel that when they are in love, the partner has to be safe. So we have to educate the youth through a dedicated awareness programme is the only solution. "
The survey revealed that in terms awareness, 60 per cent look at media as a trustworthy source of information. On an average 43 per cent of the respondents considered their parents a trustworthy source of information regarding HIV/AIDS, but only 29 per cent of respondents actually felt that they learned from their parents.
Condoms were found to be the most preferred method of protection against HIV/AIDS (56 per cent), followed by being faithful to one partner (32 per cent) and abstinence (12 per cent).
A marked difference was seen in the US, where the majority of non-sexually active respondents selected abstinence as their preferred method of protection.
At present over 40 million people are infected with HIV/AIDS, and half of the new infections are amongst the youth. Over 25 million have already died from HIV/AIDS, while 14,000 people become infected with HIV daily.
The survey says, 95 per cent of people with HIV live in the developing world. While five million people became infected with HIV in 2003, three million died of it - the highest number ever.
On the flipside, a few myths were shattered. Respondents do not believe that AIDS is a homosexual disease (97 per cent), or that sex with a virgin can cure AIDS (95 per cent), or that only drug addicts get AIDS (97 per cent).
Indeed, they don't believe in myths. These youngsters are too old for them.
More alarming is the fact that far less youths are actually following through. Only half of the respondents said they used condoms the first time they had sex; over 70 per cent of the respondents who had more than one sexual partner in the past six months did not always use a condom.
"This alarming fact shows that there is a huge difference between knowledge and the reality of young educated people actually protecting themselves," says Bill Roedy, President of MTV Networks International, and Ambassador, UNAIDS.
"We need to remind young people that protecting themselves against this disease needs to become a daily habit like eating, drinking and sleeping," Roedy adds.
The survey, conducted with international research partners Online Testing Exchange (OTX) and Ciao AG, had over 9,000 respondents in 29 countries. The survey indicates sexual behaviour trends among 14-34 year-olds on HIV/AIDS awareness, including condom use, stigma and discrimination, trusted sources of information and sexual history.
Back home, our youngsters share similar thoughts. "Of course we are all aware of the deadly disease and the use of condoms. But it all depends on the person I am having sex with," says says Rishab Kapoor, 20, a Third Year college student. "If I know that my partner is safe, I would have sex without a condom, but won't risk it with a new one," he adds.
Vishal Gupta, 27, on the other hand, "certainly enjoys sex more without a condom, but normally uses one".
AIDS activist Nafisa Ali agrees with the findings. "It is the same scenario with our educated youth in India, when we go to schools and colleges. The reason being they feel that when they are in love, the partner has to be safe. So we have to educate the youth through a dedicated awareness programme is the only solution. "
The survey revealed that in terms awareness, 60 per cent look at media as a trustworthy source of information. On an average 43 per cent of the respondents considered their parents a trustworthy source of information regarding HIV/AIDS, but only 29 per cent of respondents actually felt that they learned from their parents.
Condoms were found to be the most preferred method of protection against HIV/AIDS (56 per cent), followed by being faithful to one partner (32 per cent) and abstinence (12 per cent).
A marked difference was seen in the US, where the majority of non-sexually active respondents selected abstinence as their preferred method of protection.
At present over 40 million people are infected with HIV/AIDS, and half of the new infections are amongst the youth. Over 25 million have already died from HIV/AIDS, while 14,000 people become infected with HIV daily.
The survey says, 95 per cent of people with HIV live in the developing world. While five million people became infected with HIV in 2003, three million died of it - the highest number ever.
On the flipside, a few myths were shattered. Respondents do not believe that AIDS is a homosexual disease (97 per cent), or that sex with a virgin can cure AIDS (95 per cent), or that only drug addicts get AIDS (97 per cent).
Indeed, they don't believe in myths. These youngsters are too old for them.