Younger sex but more caution

By Vanessa Bidois

Modern New Zealand women are having sex younger than previous generations but are taking more care to protect themselves against disease and unwanted pregnancy.

The findings are revealed in New Zealand's Contraceptive Revolutions, a book to be launched in Wellington today.

It is based on this country's first detailed study of contraceptive practices and was written by the Waikato University Population Studies Centre.

One of the authors, Professor Ian Pool, said the publication evaluated the change from traditional contraceptive methods - including barriers, abstinence and abortion - to the pill, sterilisation and condom use.

"These 'contraceptive revolutions' have had a profound impact on reproductive behaviour, family formation and the role that women play in the community," Professor Pool said.

The book stemmed from a 1995 national survey of more than 3000 women aged 20 to 59. It showed that over half of the women born between 1936 and 1940 did not become sexually active until after they turned 20.

But the survey revealed that almost half of the women born between 1971 and 1975 had sex for the first time while aged 16 or younger.

"What is encouraging is that younger generations of women are more likely than any older generation to have used contraception when they engaged in first intercourse, and that they were more likely to use an efficient method," said co-author Kim Johnstone.

The executive director of the Family Planning Association, Dr Gill Greer, said it was exciting to see that 70 per cent of young women had used condoms by the age of 20.

"However, the number of women who didn't use any kind of contraception when they were first sexually active illustrates and highlights the need for ongoing sexuality education."