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SINGAPORE: More Singaporean youths have contracted sexually transmitted infections or STIs.
Up till September, the number of youths - aged between 10 and 19 - with STIs stands at 657.
This is just 118 fewer than the figure for the whole of last year.
The attitudes of Singaporean teens towards pre-marital sex have also become more liberal.
About half of adolescent boys surveyed said they had sex within one month of knowing their romantic partners, compared with about 23 percent for the girls.
These preliminary findings were from a study by the National University of Singapore (Department of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine) and the National Skin Centre (Department of STI Control).
The study is expected to be completed in the first quarter of next year.
In a separate study by the Health Promotion Board last year, 22 percent of students surveyed felt that pre-marital sex is acceptable while 15 percent indicated that they were likely to have sex when they reach 18 years old.
These findings were revealed at the launch of a new programme by the Health Promotion Board and the Community Development, Youth and Sports Ministry (MCYS) to help parents talk to their kids about sex.
At the launch, Senior Minister of State for Information, Communications and the Arts Balaji Sadasivan said 2002 saw some 238 new cases of STI among youths aged 10 to 19.
But last year, the number jumped more than three times to 775 cases.
Dr Balaji said: The figure that really strikes us is that the number of sexually transmitted infections has increased. It has increased about 300-400 percent over the last few years.
"If there's an increase in sexually transmitted infections in young people, then obviously there'll also be an increase in the number of people who will be infected by HIV.
"I think if we reach out to young people and educate them, then the numbers will reverse and they will come down."
To teach parents how to educate their children about sex, the authorities will introduce a "Love Them. Talk About Sex" programme to workplaces and schools.
The programme will target over 130 schools, for a start.
Parents can also get their hands on a new guide booklet which is filled with information like sexually transmitted diseases and common questions about sex, topics which their children would be interested in. - CNA/ir
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