With the advent of HIV/AIDS and recognition that sexual activity for many people begins in adolescence, it has become imperative to address adolescent?s curiosity with regards to sexuality, sexual health and risky sexual behaviour. 

A recent survey confirmed that adolescents gather information with regard to sex from variety of sources - the most common being older friends, pornographic films, schools and sometimes parents. These findings necessiate the introduction of sex education programmes  which are designed to inform the teens in a systematic and scientific way. This shall help teens in making informed decisions regarding their sexual life. Such sex education programmes will also be efficacious in reducing STD among teens, pregnancies among teens, chances of sexually abusive experiences as well as the experience of guilt and sinfulness.

Most teenage boys and girls are inquisitive to learn about the MEANING & PRACTICE OF SEX e.g.
   

• What is sex ?
• How is sex done ?
• Why do thoughts of sex come to our mind at this age ? 
• Why do young students get enticed when they look at naked pictures in books ?
               

Besides this teens usually have concerns regarding values, the rightness of certain behaviour and the appropriateness of such behaviour to their age.

• Is kissing a  bad thing to do at their age ?
• Is sex immoral ? 

Further more they have pending queries regarding pregnancy and pleasure associated with sex.

• Is having sex really enjoyable ?
• What type of happiness does it bring ?
• What results in a pregnancy ?
• What are the ways of preventing pregnancy ?

Some teens also show health concerns like. 

• Is masturbation an unhealthy way of sexual gratification ?
• Does it lead to mental illness ?
• How are sexually transmitted diseases developed / cured ?
• Does oral sex lead to AIDS ?

The plethora of questions teens have should be systematically answered. This will prevent a huge section of our population (app 21.4 %) from dissipating their energy in garnering information that can be made available to them in the form of an education with a definitive goal of promoting reproductive health and healthy sexual attitudes. At a national level this may help us spare teen curiosity and energy for meaningful intellectual growth and learning. This will make our youth more productive and forward looking.

Appropriate answers to the various queries that have been raised today will be discussed in the next issue.