If the research' Youth in Transition' is seen as a small picture of today's society, on the one hand, these young people are falling victim to suppressed ideas about sex, guilt, morality, what is right and wrong. On the other hand, they are ignoring the scientific facts and the health risks that arise from it. During the research it was realized that these two aspects are directly connected with each other. The word 'Risk' here means an action that can be harmful to our physical and emotional health. Taking action without giving oneself the opportunity to think about whether to avoid it is to take a risk. Even though consensual sex is a very personal thing, what society thinks about matters a lot in a society like ours. Family is an important part of it.
If the younger generation is forced to play the game of their life in the backyard of their family's permission, they will either have to twist their minds or secretly do what they want. The guilt of keeping the family in the dark again, the fear of whether we are doing 'wrong' and what will happen if we are found out will constantly fill the mind. All this noise increases the possibility of accepting some unnecessary risks of side effects.
Related circles :
- https://baimanus.in/article-about-relationship-and-sexuality-issues-and-solutions-in-youth/
- https://baimanus.in/article-about-prayas-institute-program-youth-in-transition-on-love-relationships-in-youth/
The twenty-first century came, technology advanced, tools to get information came in hand. Yet many social legends, myths and misconceptions continue to take root in the minds. Even knowing that their falsehood is false, we still fear it. For example, the idea of 'pregnant before marriage is risky' or 'not pregnant after marriage is risky'! Actually, there is no rule that one should have a child after marriage or not have a child after marriage. It is a personal decision of each person. Whether to take responsibility for a child in a relationship or not is a private matter. Of course, the responsibility of raising a child is not a simple matter. However, the memory of those responsibilities and skills should be kept by the person. Parents of babies-to-be these days use the term when we are pregnant. That sentence expresses that it is the responsibility of both parents. That is good, but once the decision of pregnancy is taken, it directly affects the body and mind of the pregnant woman, so it should be the woman's decision whether to have a child or not. She needs other people to help her make wise decisions. In this, as mentioned above, informed, comprehensive, all-round thinking is expected.
…and making the body go through the pregnancy, abortion journey, while not wanting to get pregnant, is certainly a risky course of action. Ways to prevent it before pregnancy are readily available. However, it was found in this research that they are not used regularly.
The topic of sexual health is not limited to sexual activity, so in this research we spoke not only to those who are sexually active, but to all individuals who are in a relationship, not sexually active or never in a relationship. A total of 42% of the study participants (1240) had sex. Out of these 42%, 24% of the congregations used condoms irregularly. Most of them (60%) depended on fraudulent methods like withdrawal and a safe period. (Withdrawal means withdrawing the penis before ejaculation during intercourse, so that semen does not enter the vagina, and a safe period is intercourse at times other than when the woman's eggs mature and enter the fallopian tubes.)
These are not foolproof methods of preventing pregnancy. Also, there is no protection from sexually transmitted diseases. In the case of vaginal intercourse without the use of any method of contraception, an emergency contraceptive pill can be taken within 72 hours to prevent pregnancy. A woman who does not want to have a pregnancy should be advised to take it.
This pill is available over the counter. But it must also be said that it is not a daily pill. It is for emergencies only. About 33% of those who had sex in the study reported using the emergency contraceptive pill either by themselves or by a partner. Some of them had taken these pills two or more times in a month. There is also a risk of side effects on the body from repeated use of hormone-containing drugs.
A medical abortion can be performed for up to 20 weeks if the pregnancy is unwanted. A total of 23 participants in our study reported that they or their partners had become pregnant. All 23 had decided to have an abortion. Abortion should be performed by experts, cleanly and safely, otherwise the woman's life may be at risk. Also, repeated abortions are definitely not good for a woman's body, so it is not a method of birth control.
Risky behavior is not malicious behavior. The biggest 'harmful' thing here can be said to be the people who slander, make fun of others' decisions, share others' private affairs. Discussing each person's personal decisions without respecting them is the most 'risky' behavior of young people in this regard. Although regular birth control pills or pills taken within 72 hours of unprotected intercourse can prevent pregnancy, they do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. Therefore, those taking these pills are also at risk of sexually transmitted diseases.
There are many misconceptions about these diseases in our society. 'Those who have sex with more than one person or go to prostitutes only get these diseases.' These phrases come from hearsay and insufficient knowledge and strong prejudices, creating a misconception that only associates these diseases with certain social groups.
Medical tests are necessary to determine whether a person has a sexually transmitted disease or not. Having unprotected sex with anyone you don't know for sure carries the risk of those diseases. Be it one or many spouses. Whether that person is known or unknown. It is important to note this. If condoms are used consistently and correctly during polygamy, there is no risk of contracting HIV and most sexually transmitted diseases. Of these 42% of sexually active young people, 24% of boys and 24% girls were in the risk-group for HIV and STDs, i.e. they did not use condoms consistently with their partners/partners. More than 90% of those who accepted this risk knew they could get HIV or an STD through unprotected (unconditioned) vaginal or anal sex, but didn't think they could.
More than 50% of all participants had oral sex and less than 10% of them used condoms at that time. Despite knowing that there is a risk of some diseases spreading through oral sex, they accepted it. Why are these young people ignoring the risk they are taking through their actions? Is this an alarm bell? Although the young people were aware of HIV and many sexually transmitted diseases, there were some misconceptions. Young men and women associate the risk of HIV with unrelated factors such as caste, economic class, place of residence, living conditions, education, occupation, home background. Of course, social perceptions were responsible for this.
The stories of being beaten by parents for finding a condom in a bag, confiscating the phone for being seen talking/texting a loved one and so on are all stories told by children in this research, and surely you have heard them all around you. These poor (?) parents may wish to 'save their children from the monster of sexuality' but in reality they were and are covering the essential and safe experiences of their children's lives with fear. Increasing their risks, demoralizing them and leaving them with the impression that there is nothing to think, communicate or act freely in this whole affair.
When asked how many children are able to choose their own partner for marriage, 40% of all participants said it was not possible, it was difficult for 30% of boys and girls to decide whether to get married or not, it was difficult for 22% of boys and girls to freely tell their partner what they would like in sex. Talking openly with a partner about the possibility of HIV or sexually transmitted diseases was difficult for 25% of boys and girls, while going to the store and buying condoms themselves was difficult for 33% of boys and girls. 37% of boys and girls find it difficult to go to the store and get birth control pills, while 38% of boys and girls find it impossible to stop themselves when they don't have a condom and want to have sex.
Thoughtfulness, decision-making, creativity, attitude, information are all part of sexual health and parents who directly or indirectly push their children without having open discussions about sexuality, are not doing good even if they are concerned about their 'well-being'. A society that constrains information, openness, space, and expression is only increasing the risks to young people's lives.
