That’s one of the conclusions reached by Planned Parenthood Federation
of America researchers who sorted through 1,219 questions sent to the “Ask
the Experts” section of their Web site for teens. Although the
data were not a random sample, the researchers systematically selected
every
13th question submitted to the site for an entire year.
“Although sexuality education and reproductive health services often
primarily focus on the physical aspects of sexuality, teens are also asking
about the more emotional or relational aspects,” say Suzanne M.
Johnson Vickberg, Ph.D. and colleagues.
“Integrating the mind and body aspects of sexuality in discussions
with teens is likely to more completely meet their needs,” they
add.
Most of the questions posted to the site focused primarily on bodily symptoms
such as bleeding or pain after sex, pregnancy and relationships and sexual
identity. Fewer site visitors asked specifically about contraception and
sexual behaviors. Sexually transmitted infections generated the smallest
number of questions to the site.
Vickberg and colleagues said they were concerned about the lack of questions
on contraception and sexually transmitted infections, since recent studies
suggest that “teens do not have crucial information” on these
topics.
“Such lack of concern is also apparent in interactions with health
care providers — most sexually active teens have never discussed
sexually transmitted infections with a provider,” Vickberg says.
Most of the questions were submitted by girls, although the gender of
the questioner could not be determined for almost a quarter of the submissions.
Younger site visitors tended to ask more questions about the body and relationships
than older visitors, who asked more questions about reproductive services,
pregnancy and contraception.
Vickberg said that the researchers were concerned to see that the teens
asked about sex behaviors almost a year earlier than they asked about disease
or pregnancy prevention.
Although information about many of the topics was easily available on
the site, “the teens submitting questions seemed to believe that
their circumstances were different from others and wanted individualized
responses to their questions,” Vickberg says.
The researchers say that the Internet, along with parents, teachers and
health care providers, can provide much-needed personal attention and encourage
healthy sexual behaviors and decision-making among teens.
