|
Sex and health survey on campus gets cold shoulder
(china.org)
Updated: 2005-04-07 14:41
A survey on the reproductive health of Shanghai students launched last July
is being obstructed by university authorities, some of whom object to the idea
that their undergraduates might think "too much" about sex.
Love at a
young age is not a rare phenomena in China nowadays. [China
Daily/file] | "At least seven prestigious
universities have rejected the survey." said a researcher from the Shanghai
Andrology Institute, "Some said it was because it would involve disclosing
private information, some asked for payment, and some even said the survey would
disturb students' minds, making them indulge in sexual fantasy."
The survey, sponsored by the Shanghai Municipal Committee of Population and
Family Planning, aims to get accurate information on students' sexual health,
behaviors and levels of awareness to better inform education initiatives.
So far, less than half the planned work has been completed.
The questionnaire is anonymous and designed to gauge knowledge of issues such
as reproduction and sexually transmitted infections as well as students' sexual
behavior, the institute's Dr. Chen Bin told the Shanghai-based Oriental Morning
Post.
Chen said some universities refused to distribute the questionnaires among
students after seeing phrases like "premarital sex" and "contraception."
To provide useful data, the researchers need to retrieve 5,000-6,000
questionnaires: 500 from each large university and 300 each from smaller
institutions.
There needs to be a good gender balance, and respondents have to come from
all majors and years of study.
Only 2,000 have been returned so far from four universities, though this has
been with an even gender split and has covered all grades.
The survey includes frank questions on the rhythm method of contraception,
how to calculate the safety period of the menstrual cycle, masturbation and
content of sexual fantasies, perceptions of classmates' sexual activeness and
awareness of methods of protected sex.
"Problems uncovered so far are rather serious," said Chen, since many
students' main source of information was pornography rather than balanced and
realistic sources, and their knowledge of basic sexual health was generally
poor.
The researcher said that some had never heard of the rhythm method and
"ninety percent hoped their universities would run elective courses on sexual
health."
Chen called for universities in Shanghai to give their
support to the survey as soon as possible so that it may provide the data needed
to inform work that would help improve students' sexual health.
|
 | | | Has the deceased Pope been embalmed? | | |  | | | Cameron Diaz takes a tumble | | |  | | | Former first daughter Chelsea Clinton boozing again | | |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Today's
Top News |
|
|
|
Top Life
News |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
