ASSOCIATION BETWEEN LACK OF SEX EDUCATION AND WATCHING OF ADULT THEMED CONTENT AMONGST YOUNGSTERS IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background: Sex education is based on addressing the issues relating to human sexuality or other sexual activity includes reproductive health, emotional relations, reproductive rights and responsibilities, abstinence, consent and birth control. Youngsters, a vulnerable age group, experiment and engage in risky activities such as seeking information from adult themed content and pornography sources. Since, no study has addressed this subject thus; our study aims to see if there is an association between watching of pornography and lack of sex education among youngsters in Pakistan. Methods: The sample 151 at 95% confidence level consisted of both male and female participants (ages of 16-24 years). The data collection tool used in this study was an online questionnaire. Chi square was used to develop an association between lack of sex education and watching of adult themed content. All tests were significant when p<0.05. Results: Out of 151, only 46 (30.5%) had sex education. Options regarding what the person was told or taught to learn about sex education, 12 (7.9%) marked ‘puberty and adolescence’, while 116 (76.8%) were not comfortable asking their parents or guardians about sex education. A majority 102 (67.5%) participants have watched adult themed content. Additionally, 50 (33.1%) were introduced to adult themed content through their friends whereas, 46 (30.5%) by watching movies. Conclusion: The findings of our study show that young people want to learn about their sexual health and that lack of proper sex education does lead to a buildup of curiosity, which is satisfied by going on the internet, most often misleading the seeker towards pornography and other adult themed content.