Zika virus: WHO factsheet

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <h3 class="section_head1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 20px 9px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Key facts</h3> <ul class="disc" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; list-style: none outside; margin: 0px 20px 18px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes.</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">People with Zika virus disease usually have a mild fever, skin rash (exanthema) and conjunctivitis. These symptoms normally last for 2-7 days.</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">There is no specific treatment or vaccine currently available.</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">The best form of prevention is protection against mosquito bites.</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">The virus is known to circulate in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific.</li> </ul> <hr style="background-color: white; background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/lines.gif); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; border: none; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; height: 4px; line-height: 13px; margin: 10px 20px 10px 0px;" /> <h3 class="section_head1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 20px 9px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Introduction</h3> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Zika virus is an emerging mosquito-borne virus that was first identified in Uganda in 1947 in rhesus monkeys through a monitoring network of sylvatic yellow fever. It was subsequently identified in humans in 1952 in Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania. Outbreaks of Zika virus disease have been recorded in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific.</span></div> <ul class="disc" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; list-style: none outside; margin: 0px 20px 18px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">Genre: Flavivirus</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">Vector: Aedes mosquitoes (which usually bite during the morning and late afternoon/evening hours)</li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;">Reservoir: Unknown</li> </ul> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiufkNsY-WPvqGfigCUmQ2lty7Qw8xmpJtZGS9N0fiDHX_FLDjDze-rflFPA52FnSPTCHvhCBcSDs2MByKVG_q5By6tmEGLJe6cqm1F4D89j3dGOKs1QJmLrHxb-dWZiML1KpDI6BgBTCj/s1600/Screenshot.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiufkNsY-WPvqGfigCUmQ2lty7Qw8xmpJtZGS9N0fiDHX_FLDjDze-rflFPA52FnSPTCHvhCBcSDs2MByKVG_q5By6tmEGLJe6cqm1F4D89j3dGOKs1QJmLrHxb-dWZiML1KpDI6BgBTCj/s320/Screenshot.png" width="320" /></a></div> <div> <span style="color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div> <ul class="disc" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; list-style: none outside; margin: 0px 20px 18px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;"></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;"></li> <li style="background-image: url(http://www.who.int/sysmedia/media/style/img/list.gif); background-position: 0% 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 1px 18px; vertical-align: baseline;"></li> </ul> <h3 class="section_head1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 20px 9px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Signs and Symptoms</h3> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The incubation period (the time from exposure to symptoms) of Zika virus disease is not clear, but is likely to be a few days. The symptoms are similar to other arbovirus infections such as dengue, and include fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise, and headache. These symptoms are usually mild and last for 2-7 days.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">During large outbreaks in French Polynesia and Brazil in 2013 and 2015 respectively, national health authorities reported potential neurological and auto-immune complications of Zika virus disease. Recently in Brazil, local health authorities have observed an increase in Zika virus infections in the general public as well as an increase in babies born with microcephaly in northeast Brazil. Agencies investigating the Zika outbreaks are finding an increasing body of evidence about the link between Zika virus and microcephaly. However, more investigation is needed before we understand the relationship between microcephaly in babies and the Zika virus. Other potential causes are also being investigated.</span></div> <h3 class="section_head1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 20px 9px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Transmission</h3> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Zika virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito from the Aedes genus, mainly Aedes aegypti in tropical regions. This is the same mosquito that transmits dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Zika virus disease outbreaks were reported for the first time from the Pacific in 2007 and 2013 (Yap and French Polynesia, respectively), and in 2015 from the Americas (Brazil and Colombia) and Africa (Cape Verde). In addition, more than 13 countries in the Americas have reported sporadic Zika virus infections indicating rapid geographic expansion of Zika virus.</span></div> <h3 class="section_head1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 20px 9px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Diagnosis</h3> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Zika virus is diagnosed through PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and virus isolation from blood samples. Diagnosis by serology can be difficult as the virus can cross-react with other flaviviruses such as dengue, West Nile and yellow fever.</span></div> <h3 class="section_head1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 20px 9px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Prevention</h3> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mosquitoes and their breeding sites pose a significant risk factor for Zika virus infection. Prevention and control relies on reducing mosquitoes through source reduction (removal and modification of breeding sites) and reducing contact between mosquitoes and people.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This can be done by using insect repellent; wearing clothes (preferably light-coloured) that cover as much of the body as possible; using physical barriers such as screens, closed doors and windows; and sleeping under mosquito nets. It is also important to empty, clean or cover containers that can hold water such as buckets, flower pots or tyres, so that places where mosquitoes can breed are removed.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Special attention and help should be given to those who may not be able to protect themselves adequately, such as young children, the sick or elderly.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">During outbreaks, health authorities may advise that spraying of insecticides be carried out. Insecticides recommended by the WHO Pesticide Evaluation Scheme may also be used as larvicides to treat relatively large water containers.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Travellers should take the basic precautions described above to protect themselves from mosquito bites.</span></div> <h3 class="section_head1" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 20px 9px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Treatment</h3> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Zika virus disease is usually relatively mild and requires no specific treatment. People sick with Zika virus should get plenty of rest, drink enough fluids, and treat pain and fever with common medicines. If symptoms worsen, they should seek medical care and advice. There is currently no vaccine available.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-right: 20px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">-World Health Organization</span></div> </div>

Zika virus: WHO factsheet

Key facts Zika virus disease is caused by a virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. People with Zika virus disease usually have a mild f...

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Studies show young people 'wish they were better informed about s**x

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; line-height: 20.4000015258789px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 8px; padding: 0px;"> The researchers also identified differences between how men and women learn about sex and relationships. The two studies, published in <em style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">BMJ Open</em>, utilized data from the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3) - the largest scientific study of its kind in the UK.</div> <div style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; line-height: 20.4000015258789px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 8px; padding: 0px;"> "The terrain young people have to navigate as they are growing up has changed considerably over the past 20 years and it will inevitably continue to do so," says study author Dr. Clare Tanton. "This means that while we need a more structured approach towards sex and relationships education, we must also be able to adapt to these changing needs."</div> <div style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; line-height: 20.4000015258789px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 8px; padding: 0px;"> In one of the two studies, data from Natsal-3 for 3,869 participants, conducted between 2010 and 2012, was compared with data from surveys conducted in 1990-1991 and 1999-2001, in order to assess how sources of information about sex may have changed over time.</div> <div style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; line-height: 20.4000015258789px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 8px; padding: 0px;"> The second study set out to examine variation in the sources of information about sex by sociodemographic factors for 3,408 participants of Natsal-3 and to see if there were any associations between these and sexual behaviors and outcomes. All participants involved in the studies were between 16 and 24 years of age.</div> <div style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; line-height: 20.4000015258789px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 8px; padding: 0px;"> The researchers found that, when growing up, the main source of information about sexual matters is now the school. In 1990, 28% of the participants reported that it was their main source of information, but this proportion rose by 2012 to 40%.</div> <div style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; line-height: 20.4000015258789px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 8px; padding: 0px;"> Many differences were observed between males and females for other information sources. Males were more likely to receive most of their information from their first sexual partner (12% of males vs. 5% of females), while females more frequently reported that their mothers were their primary source of information (4% of males vs. 14% of females).</div> <div style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; line-height: 20.4000015258789px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 8px; padding: 0px;"> Overall, parents were the main source of information for only 7% of males and 14% of females. Even fewer received the bulk of their information from health professionals (1% of men and 3% of women).</div> <h2 style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #313131; display: table-cell; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.45em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -1px; line-height: 1.25em; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 24px 0px 10px; text-shadow: rgb(255, 255, 255) 1px 1px 2px;"> 'A broader framing of sex education in schools is required'</h2> <div style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; line-height: 20.4000015258789px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 8px; padding: 0px;"> In contrast, around half of the participants of both genders reported obtaining the bulk of their information from "other sources" - sources deemed to be less authoritative, such as siblings, media, the Internet and pornography.</div> <div style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; line-height: 20.4000015258789px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 8px; padding: 0px;"> These findings conflict with what the young people participating in the study wanted, however. "When asked for their preferred source of additional information, young people most commonly reported school, followed by parents, and health professionals," study author Wendy Macdowall states.</div> <div style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; line-height: 20.4000015258789px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 8px; padding: 0px;"> The authors acknowledge that a consequence of assessing the one main source of information regarding sex is that "the nuances of learning about sexual matters from multiple sources are lost."</div> <div style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; line-height: 20.4000015258789px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 8px; padding: 0px;"> Participants who mainly learned about sex and relationships through school reported experiencing sexual intercourse for the first time at a later date than participants who obtained most of their information from "other sources." In addition, they were less likely to report unsafe sex or <a class="keywords" href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/246491.php" style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; color: #b000b5; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="What are sexually transmitted infections? What are sexually transmitted diseases?">sexually transmitted infection</a> (STI).</div> <div style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; line-height: 20.4000015258789px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 8px; padding: 0px;"> Receiving information through school was also associated among females with being less likely to feel distressed about sex or to experience sex against their will. This association was not observed among males, however.</div> <div style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; line-height: 20.4000015258789px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 8px; padding: 0px;"> <strong style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The researchers also found that the information the participants had received was not the type of information that they wanted to have received. Around 70% of participants in the study reported feeling they "ought to have known more" when they first felt ready for sex.</strong></div> <div style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; line-height: 20.4000015258789px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 8px; padding: 0px;"> In particular, they reported wanting more information on "sexual feelings, emotions and relationships," in addition to STIs. Females also reported wishing they'd known more about forms of <a class="keywords" href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/162762.php" style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; color: #b000b5; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="What is contraception? What is birth control?">contraception</a>.</div> <div style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; line-height: 20.4000015258789px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 8px; padding: 0px;"> "Our results suggest we need a broader framing of sex education in schools that addresses the needs of both young men and women, with a move away from the traditional female-focused 'periods, pills and pregnancy' approach," says Macdowall.</div> <div style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; line-height: 20.4000015258789px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 8px; padding: 0px;"> "The fact that many young people told us they wanted to get more information from a parent shows that parents also have an important role to play," concludes Dr. Tanton. "There needs to be a combined approach which also supports parents to help them take an active role in teaching their children about sex and wider relationship issues."</div> <div style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; line-height: 20.4000015258789px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 8px; padding: 0px;"> A study published earlier this year demonstrated the risks of obtaining information through "other sources" - teens were found to be influenced by <a href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/287773.php" style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; color: #b000b5; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">misconceptions of their peers</a>, often overestimating how much sex they were having.</div> <div id="slidebox_trigger" style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; line-height: 20.4000015258789px; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-top: 8px; padding: 0px;"> <strong style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Written by</strong> <a class="article_author" href="http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/authors/james-mcintosh" rel="author" style="-webkit-print-color-adjust: exact; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0164c8; font-weight: 600; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="View all articles written by James McIntosh">James McIntosh</a></div> </div>

Studies show young people 'wish they were better informed about s**x

The researchers also identified differences between how men and women learn about sex and relationships. The two studies, published in  BM...

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