Rise in Singapore teen sex, STI and abortion rates
Thursday, August 6, 2009 at 1:14PM For those of you who still think, for some reason, that abstinence-only sex education will work, the numbers will surprise you.
The number of statutory rape cases involving girls under 14 in Singapore jumped more than 70 per cent in 2009 when compared to 2008. Most of the cases were surprisingly consensual sex amongst casual friends and boyfriends, most of whom were about the same age.
STDs and abortion rates amongst teens in Singapore are also on the rise. Last year, 787 teens caught STDs, more than three times the 238 in 2002. Teenage abortions last year was 1,289.
These numbers prove that we need a more realistic approach in providing teens with the knowledge they need to keep themselves safe. Perhaps more disturbingly is this:
The cases were mostly reported by girls' parents or teachers once they found out.
And needless to say, there are more that were not caught in the act. Think about that.
(via @theAsianparent)
Reader Comments (8)
This is exactly why I say we should punish minors who go around looking for sex! You see what I'm trying to say now?.
You mind if I repost this on my blog? :)
when it was our time. Having sex before marriage is taboo. Now? It's a social norm. Preventing underage sex is like trying to stop piracy. It's not going to happen. We need to adapt and accept. Educate by having open communication. Once we can stop thinking that sex is bad or dirty, then we can reach out to talk to the young.
I don't think it's about punishment for minors who go cruising for sex. While they need to be deterred for obvious health implications, the root of the problem needs to be targetted, i.e., why are the cruising for sex at such a young age... IMHO, sex education should be more than just the hard facts on anatomy, biology, and medical information. With the likes of Wiki, such info is readily available... Instead, healthy/meaningful discussions on the value and meaning of sex should be conducted to help teenagers process and digest these info...
Ad, I disagree with you. Education can only go so far. Its time to stop educating. Talking is cheap. Teenagers nowadays don't listen to advices from Adults anymore. If talking doesn't work, probably its time we show them real action. Punishments like homes and caning.
@Eugene, I fully agree with you. "Once we can stop thinking that sex is bad or dirty, then we can reach out to talk to the young." is the mindset we should have, and is a very pertinent point that a lot of people miss in arguments involving topics like these. Maybe because it can get very uncomfortable.
@Ad, exactly right. We can't tackle the symptoms and declare mission accomplished. It's all too easy in this country to mistake consequence for cause, and as a result fail to address the real problem.
@Shawn, yes, feel free to repost this, just provide attribution. Feel free to disagree as well, as I think you will do, just as I will disagree with you here. For too long this has been a society focused on punishment, and that will not work in this age. Talking is cheap, yes, but we are not referring to talking. Educating them actually requires more than just the teacher and the student, it must also involve their parents. And the communication must be open, and must flow freely, and all parties must listen. The onus is on the adults, not the children, when it comes to education.
What you are advocating is "Do as I say, or else". Caning them will not change the fact that there is physical and psychological health risks involved, and instead of guiding them, we choose to cause more trauma. That approach is does not solve the problem but makes it worse. Punishment is easy, but removes the responsibility that parents should be taking and enables further erosion of that responsibility.
Thank you guys for commenting; for a while there I thought I was talking to myself :)
IMO, the main problem when we say we need 'better education' or 'stiffer punishments' is the automatic delegation of responsibilities.
If I say the main problem is "inadequate sex education", which organization/people immediately comes to mind?
If I say the solution is "stiffer punishment", which organisation/people immediately comes to mind now?
As much as it's gonna sound like marketing talk, complex issues require a more wholistic approach. Education and punishment need not be capitalized independently of each other. I think it is no longer feasible to consider it only as a "parent's problem", or a "teacher's problem", or a "judge's problem".
@Shawn
You need to be very certain that caning and lock up actually serve as better deterrence than alternative measures. what serves as a deterrent for some may not be as effective for others.
For example, you do not commit shoplifting because you are afraid of getting a criminal record, as you know a criminal record will lower your chances of obtaining employment.
But if you already have trouble obtaining employment (maybe due to lack of schooling opportunities), then it is possible a criminal record alone is ineffective as a deterrent.
@MrIllusion,
It's definitely not going to work with just one party being responsible, so I agree with you there. Like I said, we don't even have a proper support structure here, and the whole idea of sex education has been demonised and had battle lines drawn all over it that no one wants to take that responsibility.
And I'm still amazed no one said anything about the parents needing to be involved.
BTW, there is an interesting discussion sprouting up over at the FB note as well.