ONE in three 15-year-old girls has had or is in a sexual relationship. The Guernsey Young People’s Survey has today revealed that sex and alcohol are part of many Guernsey youngsters’ lifestyle.
The findings also show that one in four boys aged 15 has had or is in a sexual relationship.
The survey was part of a nationwide study.
Many teenagers are drinking excessively, with 34% of girls and 28% of boys having got drunk at least once in the week before the survey was conducted.
This was the first time it had asked about the sexual activity of island teenagers and health promotion manager Yvonne Le Page said the numbers were quite alarming.
‘But what the questions we asked do reveal is that teenagers are well informed about sexual health and where they can get advice and contraception,’ she said.
‘The concern for many people is the loss of childhood and we need to work out what we are going to do about it.
‘We can’t stop them having sex - what we have to do is make sure they are having safe sex.’
Mrs Le Page agreed there was cause for concern when it came to the number of teenagers drinking excessively.
‘What we have to acknowledge, though, is that this is not something we are going to change overnight. It’s as much about parents’ attitude towards their children drinking as it is their children’s drinking behaviour.
‘The biggest message to come from the survey is that this needs to be a community effort and will involve a lot of agencies working together,’ she said.
The survey, answered by 2,000 local 10- to 17-year-olds, also found that fewer were smoking and taking drugs compared with five years ago.
Lifelong learning manager Alun Williams said: ‘While the findings are positive and identify that the vast majority of young people in Guernsey are confident and lead healthy lives, we recognise there are areas of concern that we need to address,’ he said.
‘There has been a big increase in alcohol consumption, with the figures being higher here than in the UK. What this survey has shown is that there is increased drinking among younger pupils in particular.’
Mr Williams said the 2002 survey was taken in October and this year’s in May.
He said Liberation Day celebrations might have affected the results, but agreed there was no excuse for such excessive behaviour.
‘We are very aware that this is one of the key areas people are going to discuss and we will do the survey again in four years’ time and measure what we have put in place in terms of impact,’ he said.
Mr Williams said tackling the high rate of young people drinking alcohol was a community issue.
‘Binge drinking is accepted among young people today.
‘But what the survey has shown is that youngsters care about their friends and that they need to make sure, if they are drinking excessively, to look out for each other,’ he said.
Article posted on 30th October, 2007 - 12.00am
Loading ...
Most Commented: