Consequences Of Sexual Behavior Research Articles

Parent-Adolescent Communication About Reproductive Health Issues in Nigeria

Parent-adolescent communication about sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues is associated with healthy sexual outcomes in adolescents. The increasing evasion of this discourse at the home front in sub-Saharan Africa is receiving greater academic and public health attention. In many Nigerian households, adolescents lack access to informative and undiluted communication with their parents, a situation that is worse for adolescents dwelling in slums. This study documented SRH issues and patterns of parent-adolescent communication in selected slums of Ibadan, Southwestern, Nigeria. A mixed sequential explanatory research was carried out in 10 selected slums in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. A structured questionnaire scripted on open data kits (ODK) and vignette for Focus Group Discussion (FGD) were used to obtain data from parents and adolescents. A sample of 796 parent-adolescent dyads was interviewed for the quantitative strand, and 8 FGDs were conducted for the qualitative component. Analytical techniques utilized for quantitative data included descriptive (frequency counts and percentages) and inferential (chi-square) statistics, while descriptive and interpretative analyses were adopted for qualitative data. Communication regarding SRH issues occurs in many households, but indirectly. A higher proportion of mothers discuss all SRH issues with their adolescents and better than fathers. While female adolescents engage their parents only on limited topics, the consequences of sexual behaviors are the least discussed. The chi-square values for each topic were not significant for parents and adolescents, however, only the discussion of preventive sexual practice was significant for parents (0.042) at a significant level of 0.05 and adolescents (0.000) at a significant level of 0.01. The findings of this study suggest that sexual education training intervention is germane to enhancing parent-adolescent communication on SRH issues for parents and adolescents.

Motives to Have Sex: Measurement and Correlates With Sociodemographic, Sexual Life, and Psychosexual Characteristics.

Knowledge of diverse sexual motivations can have profound implications for our comprehension of the causes, correlations, and consequences of sexual behavior. This study had two objectives: on the one hand, to determine the different motives why young Spanish university students have sex and their relationship with different sociodemographic and psychosexual variables and sexual behavior; on the other hand, to review and improve the psychometric properties of the Sexual Motivations Scale and validate it in Spanish. Participants were 805 university students of both sexes (78% women, 74% heterosexuals), aged between 18 and 26 years (Mage = 20.88), who completed a battery of online questionnaires. Significant associations were found between young people's sexual motives, especially the motives of coping, peer pressure, and enhancement, the sociodemographic variables (sex, age sexual orientation, relational status), sexual behavior (age of initiation), and psychosexual variables (sociosexuality, self-esteem as a sexual partner, satisfaction with sex life). Also, a new structure of the Sexual Motivations Scale was proposed, with the elimination of the factor of Self-Affirmation. The discussion highlights the relevance of the results obtained due to their implications in the promotion of sexual health, in addition to achieving the first instrument validated in Spanish for the evaluation of sexual motivations.

Teenage Pregnancy in South Africa: Where are the young men involved?

Background. The level of unintended pregnancies among teenage girls in South Africa (SA) has remained a public health concern. However, studies and interventions generally do not consider young men’s involvement in teenage pregnancies. Objective. To investigate the sociodemographic and sexual behaviour characteristics of young men who have impregnated at least one teenage girl. Methods. The study used data from the Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention (2009), which included responses from young men (aged 12 - 22 years) across all SA provinces. Univariate and bivariate analyses and binary logistic regression were performed. Results. The results showed that 93.2% of the sample had ≥2 lifetime sexual partners, 22.4% rarely used condoms and 11.5% had never used condoms. Teenage pregnancy incidence was ≥35% in all provinces except Gauteng and the Western Cape. The likelihood of being involved in a teenage pregnancy was higher among respondents who reported having ≥2 lifetime sexual partners (odds ratio (OR) 2.510; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.43 - 14.77). Respondents with a higher education were less likely to be involved in a teenage pregnancy (OR 0.819; 95% CI 0.36 - 1.84) than those with a lower education (OR 1.219; 95% CI 0.59 - 2.50). Conclusion. Engaging in multiple sexual partnerships could increase the vulnerability of young people to sexually transmitted infections or teenage pregnancies. Initiatives to create awareness among SA youth regarding the consequences of sexual behaviour are recommended, with a specific focus on addressing young men’s involvement in teenage pregnancy.

Adolescent Age of Sexual Initiation and Subsequent Adult Health Outcomes

To examine the mechanisms of the association between age of sexual initiation and adult health. Data from the Seattle Social Development Project (n = 808), in Seattle, Washington, included outcomes when participants were in their 30s (2005-2014): substance use disorders, depression, poor health, and obesity. Sexual consequence mediators included sexually transmitted infection, adolescent pregnancy, and a high number of sexual partners. We used linear logistic regression to model main effect and mediated associations. Age of sexual initiation was related to nicotine and marijuana disorders, physical health, and obesity, but not alcohol disorder or depression. Mediated association with nicotine disorder was not significant; association with marijuana disorder was reduced; significant relationships with poor health and obesity remained. The relationship between age of sexual initiation and substance use was largely explained by consequences of sexual behavior. Earlier sexual initiation was linked to poorer physical health outcomes, though the nature of the association remains unclear. Public Health Implications. Prevention approaches need to address multiple risk factors and emphasize contraceptive methods to avoid sexual consequences. For physical health outcomes, broad prevention approaches, including addressing early sexual initiation, may be effective.

Understanding Adolescents’ Sexual Behaviour in Ghana: Information Sources and Their Effects

In Ghana, research reports indicate that parent–child communication on sex education is generally lacking even though sexual matters are among the popular topics for conversation, gossip, popular music, dance and jokes. Attempts are made by a few schools to incorporate sex education into topics in Biology, Social Studies and Core Science. This is, however, done on few occasions, and consequently adolescents have insufficient knowledge about the consequences of sexual behaviours. This results in early initiation into sex by many adolescents who copy blindly from TV and from the Internet undesirable sexual behaviours leading to undesirable consequences. This implies that the sources from which adolescents obtain sex information can affect their sexual behaviour. To find out the effect of sex information sources on adolescent sexual behaviour, a survey questionnaire was administered to a probabilistic sample of 340 students and followed with focus group discussions. Descriptive statistics and multiple regressions were used to analyze the data. The results showed a strong positive correlation between interpersonal sources of sex-related information and age at first sexual encounter. The study, therefore, provided the bases for recommendations for policy and practice.

A Content Analysis of How Sexual Behavior and Reproductive Health are Being Portrayed on Primetime Television Shows Being Watched by Teens and Young Adults

ABSTRACT Television is a leading source of sexual education for teens and young adults, thus it is important to understand how sexual behavior and reproductive health are portrayed in popular primetime programming. This study is a media content analysis of the 19 top-rated scripted English-language primetime television shows aired between January 1, 2015 and May 31, 2015, and viewed by American youth audiences 12–24 years of age. The purpose of this study is to assess how sex/sexuality and reproductive health are being portrayed in a popular medium that reaches many adolescent and young adult audiences. Themes used for this analysis include youth pregnancy/parenting, mentoring/guidance of youth regarding sexual behavior, sex/sexuality, body image/identity, sexual violence/abuse/harassment, gender identity/sexual orientation, and reproductive health. Themes have been classified in one of the following six categories: visual cues, brief mentions, dialogue, minor storylines, major storylines, and multi-episode storylines. Our findings indicate that narratives providing educational information regarding the risks and consequences of sexual behavior were missing from the television shows we analyzed and that storylines promoting low risk sexual behavior were rare. Sexual violence and abuse, casual sex among adults, lack of contraception use, or no portrayal of consequences of risky behaviors were common. Compared to prior research, we found an emergent theme normalizing non-heterosexual gender identity and sexual orientation. Our findings have important implications as exposure to popular media shapes the perceptions and behaviors of teens and young adults. This study has the potential to shed light on the need to create stories and narratives in television shows watched by American teens and young adults with educational messages regarding the risks and consequences of sexual behavior.

Contrasting Preoccupation With Relationships to Preoccupation With Isolative Sex

Relationship preoccupation and preoccupation with isolated sex are not well studied as yet. Sexual Dependency Inventory 4.0 data from people seeking treatment for sex addiction were used to compare groups defined as high preoccupation with relationships (REL), high preoccupation with isolated sex (ISOL), high on both (BOTH), or high on neither (NE). The groups were compared on sex addiction symptoms and consequences of sexual behavior. The 3 elevated groups (REL, ISOL, and BOTH) were used to establish profiles of associated sexual preoccupations. Results found that men and women of the BOTH group had higher scores on all measures of sexual addiction symptoms, consequences, and preoccupations. Contrasting groups elevated on REL to groups elevated on ISOL uncovered some gender differences in symptoms. However, consequences of sexual behaviors associated with high REL and high ISOL were largely similar across genders. The findings of this study suggest that clients scoring high on both the Preoccupation with Relationships and Preoccupation with Isolated Fantasizing are more likely to show high levels of preoccupation with a wide variety of other sexual interests and more likely to report more severe symptoms and consequences related to sexual addiction.

Correlates of ever had sex among perinatally HIV-infected adolescents in Uganda.

BackgroundThe objective of this study was to explore the correlates of ever had sex among perinatally HIV-infected (PHIV) adolescents.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of sexual behaviour was conducted with 624 PHIV adolescents living three regions (12 districts) of Uganda. Data was collected on socio demographic characteristics (age, sex, occupation, religion and education status), sexual practices and behaviours (Intimate relationships, sexual intercourse, age of sexual debut, condom use, multiple and concurrent sexual partners), consequences of sexual behaviours (pregnancy and STI’s) and life style factors (use of alcohol, psychoactive substances and peer influence). Multivariable logistic-regression was used to ascertain the determinants of sexual activity.ResultsThe majority of PHIV were female (59.3 %) and the mean age of the sample was 16.2 (±2.1) years. The mean age of sexual debut was 15.8 years; 16.2 % (101/624) reported symptoms for sexually transmitted infections (STI) and more than a third (213/624) reported ever had sex.Of these 76.5 % (165/213) used condoms inconsistently; and 49.3 % (105/213) had been pregnant or made someone pregnant. Of those in relationships, 56.3 % (223/396) did not disclose and were not aware of their partners’ HIV status. Adolescents aged 15–19 years were more likely to have ever been sexually active (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 6.28, 95 % Confidence interval (CI): 2.63-14.99) compared to those aged 10–14 years. Adolescents who were living alone were more likely to have ever been sexually active compared to those living with one or both parents (AOR 4.33, 95 % CI: 1.13-16.62). The odds of being sexually active were lower among adolescents in school compared to those out of school (AOR 0.2, 95 % CI: 0.13-0.30), who had never been treated for STI (compared to those who had never been treated for STI) (AOR 0.19, 95 % 0.11-0.32) and adolescents who never drank alcohol (AOR 0.49, 95 % CI 0.28-0.87).ConclusionPHIV adolescents have risky sexual behaviours characterized by being sexually active, inconsistent condom use, and having partners of unknown status. Risk reduction interventions are required to minimize unplanned pregnancies, STI, and HIV transmission by PHIV adolescents.

Understanding the role of shame and its consequences in female hypersexual behaviours: a pilot study.

Background and aims: Hypersexuality and sexual addiction among females is a little understudied phenomenon. Shame is thought to be intrinsic to hypersexual behaviours, especially in women. Therefore, the aim of this study was to understand both hypersexual behaviours and consequences of hypersexual behaviours and their respective contributions to shame in a British sample of females (n = 102). Methods: Data were collected online via Survey Monkey. Results: Results showed the Sexual Behaviour History (SBH) and the Hypersexual Disorder Questionnaire (HDQ) had significant positive correlation with scores on the Shame Inventory. The results indicated that hypersexual behaviours were able to predict a small percentage of the variability in shame once sexual orientation (heterosexual vs. non-heterosexual) and religious beliefs (belief vs. no belief) were controlled for. Results also showed there was no evidence that religious affiliation and/or religious beliefs had an influence on the levels of hypersexuality and consequences of sexual behaviours as predictors of shame. Conclusions: While women in the UK are rapidly shifting to a feminist way of thinking with or without technology, hypersexual disorder may often be misdiagnosed and misunderstood because of the lack of understanding and how it is conceptualised. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Public expectations concerning confidentiality protection of adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health care in Lithuania: Findings of the surveys conducted in 2005 and 2012

Objective An adolescent's right to confidential healthcare is protected by international law and professional consensus. However, parental and social support for confidential sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, in particular, varies greatly. This study documents Lithuanian residents’ expectations with regard to confidentiality protection for adolescents in this domain, and explores the factors related to the diversity of these expectations. Methods Two national surveys of Lithuanian residents completed in 2005 and 2012 using anonymous questionnaires. Participants rated their expectations for confidentiality using a five-point Likert scale for eight types of SRH consultations. Results Public anticipation for confidentiality depended on whether issues related to sexual behaviour or to its consequences were addressed during adolescent consultation. Only younger respondents had higher expectations for confidentiality in both contexts. Public expectations regarding confidentiality were less demanding in 2012 than in 2005. Conclusions The expectation of confidentiality protection was greater for topics related to sexual behaviour than for the consequences of sexual behaviour, such as pregnancy, abortion or a sexually transmitted infection. This implies a need for targeted information strategies for the general population and explicit guidance for physicians on when and for whom care should remain confidential.

Male Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Care

Male adolescents' sexual and reproductive health needs often go unmet in the primary care setting. This report discusses specific issues related to male adolescents' sexual and reproductive health care in the context of primary care, including pubertal and sexual development, sexual behavior, consequences of sexual behavior, and methods of preventing sexually transmitted infections (including HIV) and pregnancy. Pediatricians are encouraged to address male adolescent sexual and reproductive health on a regular basis, including taking a sexual history, performing an appropriate examination, providing patient-centered and age-appropriate anticipatory guidance, and delivering appropriate vaccinations. Pediatricians should provide these services to male adolescent patients in a confidential and culturally appropriate manner, promote healthy sexual relationships and responsibility, and involve parents in age-appropriate discussions about sexual health with their sons.

Evaluation of Sexual Content in Teen-Centered Films From 1980 to 2007

Film has become a popular form of entertainment among teenagers and provides images from which teens model behaviors and form attitudes. This study addresses the understudied area of the portrayal of teen and adult sexual behaviors over nearly three decades in the top-grossing teen-centered films from 1980 to 2007. This study analyzes the frequency, nature, character portrayals, and consequences of sexual behavior. The results show that teen-centered films are replete with passionate kissing and sexual dialogue yet contain a modicum of implied intercourse and intimate touching. Moreover, the frequency of such occurrences has remained surprisingly constant over the last three decades. This research also reveals that teen-centered films, as a source for sexual socialization, are relatively impoverished when it comes to responsible messages dealing with abstinence, safe sex practices, and the health risks associated with sex.

The Role of Beliefs in Sexual Behavior of Adolescents: Development and Validation of an Adolescent Sexual Expectancies Scale

This paper reports on the development and psychometric properties of the Adolescent Sexual Expectancies Scale (ASEXS). Data were obtained from three annual longitudinal surveys of youth aged 10 - 17 at the first administration (N = 932 at Wave 3). Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that four correlated factors corresponding to Social Risk, Social Benefit, Health Risk, and Pleasure adequately represented the expectancy items. High alpha coefficients and stability across survey waves indicated good internal and test-retest reliability for these factors. Latent variable autoregressive analyses indicated that Social Risk expectancies predicted changes in sexual behavior over the course of the study. Multi-group analyses established that the measurement and predictive models were equivalent for males and females and across age groups. The ASEXS provides researchers with a useful measure for examining adolescents' expectancy beliefs about the consequences of sexual behavior.

The Love Life of the Zebra Finch

AbstractBehavioural geneticist Wolfgang Forstmeier investigates the fundamental basis and consequences of sexual behaviour

Prevention and Women's Reproductive Health: A Matter of Concern

The recent legislation on abortion in South Dakota and the subsequent copycat legislation proposed in nine other states (Alan Guttmacher Institute, 2006a) are a grim reminder of the continuing assault on women's reproductive health by state legislatures. The South Dakota law makes it a felony for physicians to perform abortions except to save the life of the mother. Amendments to make exceptions for cases of rape and incest were introduced for consideration; however, they were defeated. With the recent appointment changes to the Supreme Court, states may be viewing legislation such as the South Dakota law as an opportunity to overturn the landmark case of Roe v. Wade (which legalized abortion in the United States on a national level) and return abortion policy to the states. Although this movement may reflect the sentiment of some states to control abortion policy, it is interesting to note that many states already determine abortion policy for poor women, who have been unable to obtain a Medicaid-funded abortion since the implementation of the Hyde Amendment in 1977. The Hyde Amendment (P.L. 94-439) prohibited the use of federal funding for abortion except in cases of life endangerment, rape, or incest. Thirty-two states follow that federal standard established with this amendment and provide Medicaid abortions only in these exceptional cases (Alan Guttmacher Institute, 2006b). South Dakota refuses to fund Medicaid abortions for rape and incest, which is a violation of the federal standards. Poor women, however, are most at risk of having an unintended pregnancy and obtaining an abortion. Half of all pregnancies in the United States are unintended, but the rate of unintended pregnancy varies by income. In 2001 women whose incomes placed them below the federal poverty level were four times as likely to experience an unintended pregnancy and three times as likely to have an abortion as women whose incomes placed them above 200 percent of the poverty level (Finer & Henshaw, 2006). Furthermore, the rate of unintended pregnancy was stable, at 49 percent, between 1994 and 2001, but it increased by 29 percent among women below the poverty level and increased by 26 percent for women between 100 percent and 200 percent of the poverty level. The abortion rate among U.S. women decreased during these years, as did the proportion of unintended pregnancies that resulted in abortion (Finer & Henshaw). Data from the National Center for Health Statistics (2005) reveal that unwanted births increased from 9 percent in 1995 to 14 percent in 2002. The data also show that women whose pregnancies are unintended are disproportionately young, unmarried, African American, and have low income. Ironically, the proportion of publicly funded family planning agencies receiving Medicaid funding--clinics that typically serve this population--fell from 91 percent to 81 percent between 1995 and 2003 (Lindberg, Frost, Sten, & Dailard, 2006). Given the social, health, and economic consequences of unintended pregnancy (Brown & Eisenberg, 1995), it would seem logical to enact policies and implement programs targeting its reduction. The opposite seems to be occurring. Policies continue to be developed that deny the reality of human behavior and biological phenomenon. An example of such a policy is abstinence-only sex education, which sometimes provides incorrect information about the consequences of sexual behavior and abortion (U.S. House of Representatives, 2006). Some research findings on abstinence-only programs indicate that they may delay intercourse, but do not prevent intercourse and sexual behavior (Bruckner & Bearman, 2005; Jemmott, Jemmott, & Fong, 1998) or have no effect on sexual behavior (Texas Department of State Health Services, 2005). In addition, many school districts forbid the provision of positive information about contraception (Landy, Kaeser, & Richards, 1999), and two-thirds of the states have policies that would allow sex education in the schools only if the students obtain parental consent to participate in the program (Gold & Nash, 2001). …

Attitude Mismatching: Discrepancies in the Sexual Attitudes of African American Mothers and their Pre-adolescent Children

The present study examined attitude congruence between mothers and their pre-adolescent children regarding the precursors of sexual behavior (i.e., having a boyfriend/girlfriend, dating), timing of sexual initiation (i.e., waiting until marriage to have sex), and the potential consequences of sexual behavior (i.e., the seriousness of pregnancy and AIDS). A sample of 932 fourth and fifth grade African American children and their mothers participated by completing computer-administered surveys. The results indicated significant discrepancies between maternal and child attitudes, particularly regarding the precursors of sexual behavior. In addition, children often inaccurately perceived their mothers' attitudes, and evidence suggested that lack of sexual communication is associated with some of these misperceptions. The implications of sexual attitude discrepancies between mothers and children for prevention programs are discussed.

LAUMANN, Edward O., John H. GAGNON, Robert T. MICHAEL, and Stuart MICHAELS, THE SOCIAL ORGANIZATION OF SEXUALITY

LAUMANN, Edward O., John H. GAGNON, Robert T. MICHAEL, and Stuart MICHAELS, THE SOCIAL ORGANIZATION OF SEXUALITY: Sexual Practices in the United States, Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press, 1994, 718pp., $49.95 hardcover. This book reflects the complexity of sexual expression by providing an enormous amount of data about who does what sexually, with whom, how often, and with what consequences. It reports on the sexual behavior of adults between the ages of 18 and 59 in the United States. The National Health and Social Life Survey (NHSLS) is based on standardized interviews of 1'/2 hours conducted in 1992 with 3,432 respondents from the non-institutionalized civilian population, utilizing an area probability design with supplementary samples of Black and Hispanic residents. The impetus for the study was the AIDS crisis in the 1980s when health authorities recognized that reliable information on sexual practices was lacking. The authors embarked on a seven year journey, replete with political interference and funding cuts. They remind us that there are many limitations imposed on the design which originally called for a more adequate sample size of between 10,000 and 20,000 persons. They achieved, however, a remarkable response rate of close to 80 percent. This book reflects the efforts of many individuals and systematically presents the theory informing the study, the study design, and a detailed statistical report and analysis of the data. The book is no easy-read and seems more like a reference. In order to appreciate the wealth of findings reported in Part II, it is important to read the first two chapters. Chapter 1 presents the theoretical foundations of scripting theory for explaining sexual content, choice theory with respect to sexual decision-making, and social network theory with its focus on the sexual dyad. Chapter 2 provides an informative discussion of the issues relating to the survey design. Part II consists of seven chapters and it would be tempting to reel out the major findings: for example, about masturbation being a less salient form of sexual expression for women compared to men; or that in any given year, over 80% of all adults aged 18 to 59 have no sex partners or only one; or that the proportions who report having has extramarital or extra-cohabitational affairs are seldom greater than 25 percent. But such reporting does not do justice to the researchers' findings and their analyses. An in-depth examination of selected chapters in Part II will yield rewards. Thus Chapter 8 on homosexuality provides an excellent review of previous research as well as their own results, pooled with data from the National General Social Survey (GSS) which has included a self-administered form with sexual behavior questions since 1988. The authors' conclusion is that there is no single answer to questions about the prevalence of homosexuality: it is a complex, multidimensional phenomena whose salient features are related to one another in highly contingent and diverse ways. Similar statements could be made about other aspects of their findings. Part III of the book focuses on the consequences of sexual behavior and considers sexuality, health, and happiness; the incidence and prevalence of sexually transmitted infections; sexual behavior and fertility; sexual behavior and cohabitational partnerships; and finally, normative orientations toward sexuality, namely, the traditional, relational and recreational orientations. …

The HIV-positive psychiatric patient and the duty to protect: ethical and legal issues.

A small, yet significant, percentage of HIV-positive patients have a concomitant psychiatric or neurological disorder associated with impaired judgment. Clinical problems such as psychoses, certain personality disorders, and dementias are associated with disinhibition of impulses and diminished capacity for self-monitoring. These deficits in reasoning and judgment may prevent the patient from comprehending the significance of their HIV status and the consequences of sexual behavior or needle sharing. There are indications that the Tarasoff duty-to-protect may apply to this situation. Available data about the prevalence of HIV risk behavior and HIV infection among psychiatric patients are reviewed. The applicability to these situations is described. When an HIV patient engages in high risk sexual behavior with identifiable partners and refuses to notify them of their HIV status, physicians and mental health professionals may have a legal and ethical duty to warn. A decision model for this clinical dilemma is presented. Clinical strategies for these patients may include ongoing supervision and monitoring as well as possible quarantine.

Changing patterns of adolescent sexual behavior: Consequences for health and development

Sexuality is a fundamental quality of human life, important for health, happiness, individual development, and indeed for the preservation of the human race. During the dynamic period of adolescence in which the passage from childhood to maturity takes place, sexuality takes on new dimensions; feelings become more intense, relationships become more complex, and the consequences of sexual behavior are radically altered. This not only affects the behavior of young people but also of those who interact with them, their families and peers, and those who work in the health, education, youth, social welfare, and other sectors. In the contemporary world the conditions of life for many young people have also changed, and with it patterns of sexual behavior. In general, earlier puberty, later marriage, a decline in the family leading to less control and more autonomy, and intense exposure to sexual stimuli via the mass media and travel across cultural boundaries have made premarital adolescent sexual activity more common. This has added to traditional problems of early marriage, newer problems of early pregnancy, childbirth, and induced abortion outside of marriage, sexually transmitted diseases, and human immunodeficiency syndrome infection leading to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. But the work of the World Health Organization (WHO), along with many others in the field, strongly suggests that given appropriate information and services, trust and equity between the sexes, young people will behave responsibly and well. In this paper some of the findings from methods developed by WHO for research, training, advocacy, and evaluation, and findings in relation to patterns and determinants of sexual and reproductive health and development will be described, and future directions suggested.