Young Brits have ‘aware but don’t care’ attitude to safe-sex
New study reveals 16-24 year olds are casual about sex and protection
New research today reveals that while young people in Britain are happily sowing their wild oats a shocking number still have unprotected sex, despite HIV and AIDS topping their list of worries when it comes to sex.
The study commissioned by The Body Shop and MTV Networks UK & Ireland reveals 63% of sexually active 16-24s admit to having had unprotected sex and a third (33%) of these have had unprotected sex with 2 or more partners. It appears that women aged 16-24 in the UK feel that it is the man’s responsibility to carry a condom, with only 15% of women saying that they do carry one.
The research unveiled that more than half (53%) of 16-24s say that they have had casual sex - with someone whom they are not dating, and more than half (56%) say they would bed their date on or before the third date, - the third date now more commonly known as “the sex date”.
The survey supports the launch of The Body Shop and MTV ‘Get Lippy’ UK campaign[i] to raise awareness and prevention of HIV and Aids amongst 15-24 year olds. The campaign will also be raising funds through the sale of The Body Shop Limited Edition Guarana Lip Butter[ii] for the Staying Alive Foundation to finance HIV and AIDS educational projects[iii].
It seems the younger generation is now more at ease with having sex at a younger age and more liberal regarding the number of sexual partners someone has had, with nearly two-thirds (63%) of 16 to 19 year-olds say it is acceptable to have slept with more than five people by the age of 21, compared to only 40% for people in their early 30s
Other survey findings:
§ One-in-four (24%) 16-24 year olds say that they could have sex with someone they didn’t know/trust
§ More than 1 in 5 (22%) 16 -24 year olds have lost their virginity before the age of 16
§ More than 1 in 5 (22%) of 16-24 year olds think sex is merely a physical act
§ 20% of 16-24s have had 6 or more sexual partners
Toby Morgan, Values Manager for The Body Shop UK & RoI, commented: “These survey results prove that young people’s behaviour is still not in line with awareness, or their own personal concerns about being infected with HIV. It is vital that we continue to educate and motivate young people to protect themselves against infection. By partnering with MTV our goal is to communicate prevention messages to help young people in understand that AIDS is an issue that affects them.”
While many young people believe HIV will never touch their lives, globally over 40 million people live with HIV and AIDS. Shockingly, half of all new HIV infections are among young adults under 25 – it is estimated every 15 seconds a person aged 15-24 becomes infected with HIV/AIDS.
The ‘Get Lippy’ campaign has already attracted celebrity supporters including Annie Lennox and pop chart sensation, Estelle.
[iii] The Staying Alive Foundation is committed to fighting stigma and discrimination and empowering young people to protect themselves against HIV and AIDS. MTV and The Body Shop have together raised £430,000 towards the Staying Alive Foundation to-date. The funding went directly to the Staying Alive Foundation Awards, giving small grants to 85 young people to mobilise HIV prevention efforts - educating their peers and influencing and inspiring others to think about HIV/ AIDS. http://www.staying-alive.org
§ About The Body Shop
The Body Shop International plc has more than 2,200 stores in over 55 markets worldwide. A global retailer of toiletries and cosmetics, we are committed to environmental protection and respect for human rights; we develop trading relationships with communities in need; we are against animal testing in the cosmetics industry; and we encourage education, awareness and community involvement among our staff and customers.
All The Body Shop® products and ranges are suitable for vegetarians, meaning they contain no animal slaughter by-products. Select ranges are suitable for vegans, which in addition contain no animal derivatives, such as beeswax, honey and lanolin.
§ About MTV Networks International
MTV Networks International includes the premier multimedia entertainment brands MTV: Music Television, VH1, Nickelodeon, TMF (The Music Factory), VIVA, Flux, Paramount Comedy, Comedy Central, Game One and IFILM. MTV Networks' brands are seen globally in 508.3 million households in 160 countries and 32 languages via 142 locally programmed and operated TV channels and more than 300 digital media properties. The company's diverse holdings also include interests in television syndication, digital media, publishing, home video, radio, recorded music, licensing & merchandising and two feature film divisions, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies. MTV Networks is a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).
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