Crisis Pregnancy Agency launches campaign to delay early sex among young people
The Crisis Pregnancy Agency today launched a new education and information initiative that aims to encourage teenagers to make healthy, responsible decisions about relationships and sex.
The campaign, which consists of a range of different materials for teenagers, parents and youth workers is called “b 4 u decide”. The website, www.b4udecide.ie, features quizzes, polls and video interviews with young people on forming healthy relationships, dealing with peer pressure and why it’s better for young people to wait until they are older before having sex for the first time. A section on the website, called “The Facts” deals with the age of consent, contraception, STIs and crisis pregnancy. Visitors to the website can also view interviews with professionals who work the fields of sexual health, youth work, and counselling.
Materials have been developed for youth workers and teachers to assist them in delivering Relationships and Sexuality Education in the classroom and youth work settings. A booklet has also been developed for parents with tips on talking to teenagers about relationships and sex.
Caroline Spillane, Director of the Crisis Pregnancy Agency said: “Young people experience immense pressure from a range of sources including their peers, boyfriends, girlfriends and the media. How teenagers differ is in their ability to cope with and respond to these pressures. State organisations, parents, teachers and youth workers must work together ensure that all young people are similarly equipped with the knowledge and confidence to handle the pressures they experience, and make healthy, informed decisions about relationships and sex. In doing this, we can help them face the many challenges that they will encounter during adolescence and not rush into sexual activity at an early age.”
The negative outcomes of early sexual activity were a finding of the Irish Study of Sexual Health and Relationships (ISSHR) published in 2006. (see note 2)
Speaking at the launch of the b4 u decide campaign, Professor Hannah McGee of the Royal College of Surgeons, one of the authors of the ISSHR report said: “Our research found that young people who engaged in first sex before the age of consent were more likely to experience crisis pregnancy, to have an abortion and to be at greater risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) later in their lives. Young people who had sex at an early age were also more likely to express regret – to say they wished they had waited longer. We welcome this initiative which builds on relevant recent Irish research findings.”
Over 200 young people, 40 adults from a range of organisations and 16 parents were involved at different stages of the project; from the beginning of the project through to the development and production of the materials.
Cliona Ni Chiosain, star of TG4’s ‘Aifric’, spoke at the launch of the campaign: “It’s great that so many young people were involved in the development of the campaign and that the information they wanted is included in the website. Go and see it for yourself, “www.b4udecide.ie – The Facts Without the Lecture.”
The Department of Education and Science, HSE Health Promotion, Parentline, the National Youth Council of Ireland and teenagers worked with the Agency on the campaign. The Crisis Pregnancy Agency has granted funding to the National Youth Council of Ireland to provide training on delaying early sex to youth workers.
Ends
For further information, please contact:
Lorna Farren – lfarren@crisispregnancy.ie
Programmes and Communications Officer
Crisis Pregnancy Agency
Tel: 01-8146292
Mobile: 087-6289831
Enda Saul – esaul@crisispregnancy.ie
Programmes and Communications Manager
Crisis Pregnancy Agency
Tel: 01 814 6292
Mobile: 085 7172008
Editor’s Notes
The Crisis Pregnancy Agency (CPA) was established in 2001 and is mandated to provide for:
A) A reduction in the number of crisis pregnancies by the provision of education, advice and contraceptive services
B) A reduction in the number of women with crisis pregnancies who opt for abortion by offering services and support which make other options more attractive
C) The provision of counselling services, medical services and other health services for the purpose of providing support, after crisis pregnancy, as may be deemed appropriate by the Agency.
2. The Irish Study of Sexual Health and Relationships (ISSHR, 2006) is the largest nationally representative study on sexual knowledge, attitudes and behaviour ever undertaken in Ireland. It was published by the Agency and the Department of Health and Children in 2006 and used a sample size of 7,441 adults, men and women aged between 18-64 years. The Economic and Social Research Institute and Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland completed the survey work (lead by Professors Richard Layte and Hannah McGee).
ISSHR found that the median age of first sexual intercourse among 18 – 24 year in Ireland is 17 years, which tells us that most people wait until they are 17 or older to have sex. 31% of young men aged 18 – 24 and 22% of young women aged 18 – 24 reported that they had sexual intercourse before the age of 17.
ISSHR found that when compared with those who had first sex after 17 years, those who had first sex before the age of 17 were:
• More likely to experience a crisis pregnancy at some stage in their lives
• More likely to have had an abortion
• More likely to report having sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• More likely to regret that sex happened at that point
• Less likely to have used contraception at first intercourse
3. The Agency has developed a number of other resources to assist parents in providing age-appropriate information to their children on relationships and sex:
• ‘Busy Bodies’- Resource for parents of 10-14 year olds – Parents can order a copy by freetexting BUSY followed by their name and address to 50444.
• ‘You can talk to me’- Resource for parents of 11-15 year olds – Parents can order a copy by freetexting PARENT followed by their name and address to 50444.
• ‘Parents, Tips for Talking to Teenagers- Resource for parents of teenagers- Parents can order a copy by freetexting TALK followed by their name and address to 50444.
• The Facts DVD – Resource for parents of 15-17 year olds – Contains information on fertility, contraception, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and crisis pregnancy. Parents can order a copy by freetexting FACTS followed by their name and address to 50444.
