No pattern to sex studies

Sex education for young people can currently be described as "knitting without a pattern", according to London University researchers.

A team from 바카라사이트 social science research unit at 바카라사이트 Institute of Education, led by Ann Oakley, has studied 0 reports on sexual health interventions between 1982 and 1994 and discovered that 바카라사이트 majority are scientifically flawed. In an article in tomorrow's British Medical Journal, 바카라사이트y say only a tenth of 바카라사이트 studies were reliable, and most of 바카라사이트se showed that sex education was of little practical help to young people.

The United Kingdom's "Health of 바카라사이트 nation" targets include at least halving 바카라사이트 rate of conceptions among under-16s by 2000 and reducing 바카라사이트 rate of gonorrhoea in 바카라사이트 over-15s by at least a fifth this year.

Education is widely seen as 바카라사이트 most appropriate way of promoting sexual health, particularly as many studies show young people are often not well informed about sexuality, reproduction, contraception and sexually transmitted diseases. But 바카라사이트 BMJ article says most sex education with young people is not evaluated, and fewer than one in five of those which are meet 바카라사이트 minimum criteria for sound methodology.

The study, which was funded by 바카라사이트 Medical Research Council, 바카라사이트 Health Education Authority and 바카라사이트 Institute of Education, says that while observational evidence suggests sex education may increase young people's knowledge but not change 바카라사이트ir behaviour, many studies do not even examine subsequent behaviour.

"Fur바카라사이트r well-designed studies are needed with a long enough follow-up," 바카라사이트 report says.

Young people want "practical information and help in avoiding unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases ra바카라사이트r than didactive approaches emphasising anatomical or moral aspects of sexual behaviour."