<p>While overall, 15 per cent men and 4 per cent women reported engaging in pre-marital sex, but “17 per cent men in rural areas engaged in pre-marital sex compared to 10 per cent in cities while 4 per cent of women in rural areas engaged in sex before marriage against 2 per cent in cities,” found the study conducted under the aegis of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.<br />The study found that youths in the urban and rural areas were engaging in unprotected sex, raising the need to provide sex education to adolescents in the country. <br /><br />The study was conducted in six states–-Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu–-between 2006 and 2008, involving over 58,000 youths in the age group of 15-29 years. <br />“We have data from states which says that more than 8 per cent of young people below the age of 19 years have experimented with sex. In our changing society both boys and girls are definitely in need of information and counselling,” Azad said after releasing the study. <br /><br />Findings show that condom’s use within pre-marital sexual relationship was almost non-existent and a majority of those engaging in pre-marital sex had multiple partners. <br /><br />The study also found that detailed awareness of contraceptive methods was limited, particularly among sexually active young women. <br />“Awareness of HIV/AIDS was limited among sexually experienced youth with a majority of women unaware of it,” the study said. <br /><br />Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, who attended the release function, said: “While awareness of contraceptive is high, its exact uses are shockingly low, with 70 per cent of young women unaware of the fact that a condom can be used only once.” <br />The study was carried out by the Population Council, Delhi, and International Institute of Population Sciences, Mumbai.<br /></p>
<p>While overall, 15 per cent men and 4 per cent women reported engaging in pre-marital sex, but “17 per cent men in rural areas engaged in pre-marital sex compared to 10 per cent in cities while 4 per cent of women in rural areas engaged in sex before marriage against 2 per cent in cities,” found the study conducted under the aegis of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.<br />The study found that youths in the urban and rural areas were engaging in unprotected sex, raising the need to provide sex education to adolescents in the country. <br /><br />The study was conducted in six states–-Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu–-between 2006 and 2008, involving over 58,000 youths in the age group of 15-29 years. <br />“We have data from states which says that more than 8 per cent of young people below the age of 19 years have experimented with sex. In our changing society both boys and girls are definitely in need of information and counselling,” Azad said after releasing the study. <br /><br />Findings show that condom’s use within pre-marital sexual relationship was almost non-existent and a majority of those engaging in pre-marital sex had multiple partners. <br /><br />The study also found that detailed awareness of contraceptive methods was limited, particularly among sexually active young women. <br />“Awareness of HIV/AIDS was limited among sexually experienced youth with a majority of women unaware of it,” the study said. <br /><br />Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, who attended the release function, said: “While awareness of contraceptive is high, its exact uses are shockingly low, with 70 per cent of young women unaware of the fact that a condom can be used only once.” <br />The study was carried out by the Population Council, Delhi, and International Institute of Population Sciences, Mumbai.<br /></p>
