When NHK conducted a joint survey with a research group on attitudes and experiences related to sexuality, such as pregnancy and contraception, more than 50% of people under the age of 20 had worried that they might have had an unintended pregnancy. , Researchers attribute it to a lack of knowledge about sex and lack of self-determination.
The survey was conducted on the Internet in August this year with a group that NHK is studying the current situation and issues of sexuality and reproduction, and received responses from 2836 men and women between the ages of 18 and 74.
Of these, ▼ when we asked those who have had sex who decides whether or not to use contraception, ▽
37%
answered that they decided by themselves, and ▽ 35 answered that they consulted with their partners.
▽ 11% said that the decision was made by the partner, and
▽
15% said that it was decided by the flow of the moment.
▼Also, when I asked if I could refuse to have sex with my partner when I didn't want to , 47% of men and 61% of women
answered that they could always say yes
.
▼ 38% of respondents said that they or their partner may have had an unintended pregnancy. This was
followed
by 47% of women in their 40s
and 46% of men in their 20s or younger.
On the other hand, 51% of the respondents answered that they had "rarely" or "never" opportunities to acquire sufficient knowledge about abortion and contraception
.
▽ 52% overall,
▽
61% of those under 20.
Obstetrician and gynecologist Yumie Ikeda, representative of the research group SRHR Japan, said, ``Not only are there no opportunities to acquire knowledge, but the current situation is that both men and women are unable to make satisfactory choices about their bodies. It has become an issue as a society as to how we can acquire knowledge about sex and the body and the ability to make decisions on our own.”
Consultations from the younger generation at the “Youth Clinic” one after another
Facilities called "youth clinics" where young people can consult doctors for free or at a low cost are receiving a series of sexual and physical concerns.
At a facility that opened in the downtown area of Osaka in October last year, midwives respond to consultations from junior high and high school students and those in their 20s via LINE or face-to-face.
Over the past year
,
more than 500 consultations have been received from all over Japan, mainly in the Kansai region.
14% of consultations are about the “low-dose pill” used to relieve pain,
and there are also many consultations about menstrual cramps and emergency contraceptives for irregular menstruation.
▽ Some junior high and high school students are worried that they may have become pregnant because their menstruation is four days late or their genitals have been touched.
On the other hand, in consultations from people in their 20s, there were conspicuous cases with problems in relationships, such as "I could not ask for contraception", "I could not refuse sexual intercourse", and "I became pregnant but could not contact the other party". is.
Yuko Jimbo, a midwife and counselor at "Smaruna Station", said, "In addition to lack of knowledge about pregnancy, menstruation, sexually transmitted diseases, etc., I was not taught to refuse or dislike it, and in the first place, I was not taught about sex. I don't think I can talk to my parents about it, and there is nowhere to talk to, so many people end up here."
Akita Pref. Decrease in abortions by providing learning opportunities at junior high schools
Since junior high school students, Akita Prefecture has been trying to acquire accurate knowledge about sex.
The government's "Course Guidelines" stipulate that, in principle, sexual acts, contraception, and abortion are not handled in junior high schools due to differences in the developmental status of individual students and the values of parents. there is.
For this reason, it is difficult for teachers to teach in class, but in Akita Prefecture, out of a sense of crisis that the rate of teenage abortions was once significantly higher than the national average, we enlisted the cooperation of outside instructors such as local doctors and midwives. I have provided the opportunity to learn
Last month, in a lecture held at a junior high school in Katagami City, an obstetrician and gynecologist gave a lecture to about 70 third-year students, based on actual cases of teenage pregnancies in the prefecture. I was taught about the change, ▽ the mental and physical burden of abortion, and the deadline for making a decision.
In addition to contraceptive methods such as low-dose pills and condoms, he explained that there are emergency contraceptives in case of failure, but none of them can prevent pregnancy 100%.
A male student said, "It's hard to ask my friends and teachers about sex, so I'm glad I got a lot of knowledge." was
Akira Takasago, a health and physical education teacher, said, "I think that there will be more in-depth content than teachers. If you don't have the knowledge, you may be misunderstood by the wrong information that is flooding the world. And I want you to connect it to action," he said.
According to the prefectural board of education, in a questionnaire survey of students, the number of students who said, "It is better not to have sexual contact while in junior high school" tends to increase after taking the course, and it is said that parents have also gained understanding. That's it.
As a result of these efforts, the abortion rate per 1,000 people aged 15 to 19 in Akita Prefecture has decreased from 18.2 21 years ago to 2.4 two years ago, falling below the national average. keep the numbers lower.
Original initiative in high school
In addition to knowledge about sex, there are also high schools that have independently worked to develop the ability to "make decisions about their own bodies."
At Daito Gakuen High School in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, "sex education" is a compulsory subject for first-year students, and they study for one hour every week.
The content is called "comprehensive sexual education," which comprehensively teaches sexual activity, contraception, gender, human rights, sexual diversity, and prevention of sexual violence. increase.
In this month's class, while comparing teaching materials and videos about sex and the body for children in Japan and the United States, we exchanged opinions on the body's right to self-determination, which is to "determine one's own body."
Students commented, "I never thought about physical rights," or "I thought it was okay to tell people what I didn't like." I understood that consent was necessary,” was also heard.
Ami Ushizaka, head of the subject, said, "Through one year of compulsory learning, you will be able to think about your body, yourself, and how to interact with others in a well-balanced and comprehensive manner. It's too late to start hurting people. , It would be troublesome to get pregnant without knowing about contraception.I want you to learn before you grow up and live."
At this high school, the teachers thought that the content in textbooks was not enough for students to deal with sexual and physical concerns on their own, so they created their own teaching materials and continued their classes.
Tetsuo Mizuno, who has been involved since the beginning and still teaches as a part-time lecturer, says, "As a premise, we share the concept of physical rights that 'your body is yours and only you can decide.' Sex is inseparable from human rights. I want you to know that it's not important," he said.