Psychologist concerned over premarital sex among teens

Psychologist concerned over premarital sex among teens

JAKARTA (JP): Leading psychologist Sarlito Wirawan Sarwono
expressed concern yesterday over the high number of teenagers
engaging in premarital sex.

Quoting a study conducted by reproductive health expert Wimpie
Pangkahila in 1990, Sarlito said 25 percent of all Indonesian
youths between the ages of 10 and 24 have had sex. Pangkahila's
account was by far the highest among surveys on teenage sex.

However, there were few reports about abortion as the result
of unwanted pregnancies among teenagers, Sarlito said.

"Who wants to report it anyway? The teenagers do not just go
to doctors, but also to midwives or medical staff or even their
own friends."

He told The Jakarta Post yesterday that in countries such as
the United States, statistics showed that 60 percent to 80
percent of teenagers had premarital sex.

Despite the high rate of teen sex in the U.S., Sweden and
Japan, there were hardly any reports about fetus and babies being
dumped, as is the case here, he said.

The number of American teenagers having abortions in
registered clinics was few, despite the fact that they had been
involved in sexual relationships since they were about 14 years
old, he said.

The same concern was also expressed by medical experts Meiwita
B. Iskandar and F.A. Moeloek in a recent discussion.

Both agreed that teenagers should be given sex education and
greater access to sex counseling to allow them to develop a more
responsible attitude toward sexual behavior.

Meiwita, who is the resident advisor at The Population
Council, said that openly informing teenagers about sexual issues
could prevent them from engaging in unsafe premarital sex.

"Up to now the information on reproductive health (for
teenagers) ... has had no clear or focused message, particularly
concerning sexual behavior," Meiwita said during a discussion on
teen reproductive health.

She said such information must be incorporated within the
school curriculum.

Citing a survey conducted in Thailand and Jamaica on teenage
sexual behavior, Moeloek said that ignorance on the use of
contraception and poverty had increased the risks of death from
sexually transmitted diseases and abortion among teenagers.

Meiwita called for better education for teenagers on
responsible sexual behavior and information on available
counseling in the event of unwanted pregnancies or sexually
transmitted diseases. (09)