Young people in Cork have little awareness of the causes, risks, symptoms and consequences of sexually transmitted infections, new research suggests.
A report on teenage pregnancy and sexual activity also found "many very casual sexual encounters" among 60 young people from the city's north side, and little evidence of use of contraceptives.
The research of people aged between 12 and 18 in areas including Knocknaheeny, Strawberry Hill and Mayfield highlights a lack of recreational facilities and information for young people and a need for more out-of-school education.
"Overall, this study indicated that young people have very little awareness of and limited understanding of the causes, risks, symptoms and consequences of sexually transmitted infections \," said Ms Eleanor Moore, a Southern Health Board community worker who was part of the research team.
"It would seem that the risk of pregnancy is typically regarded as greater than the risk of STIs. Interestingly, both pregnancy and STIs were generally referred to by participants as risks for others, but not for themselves."
The research was carried out by the Southern Health Board and the Cork Youth Association, Ógra Chorcaí, and the report will be launched today in Cork by the Minister for Health, Mr Martin.
The young people said condoms and "withdrawal" were the mostly widely used forms of protection, although none actually reported using condoms. A number of girls said they would be too embarrassed to either buy condoms or to ask a boy they did not know well to use them.
"The findings suggest there are many very casual sexual encounters," said Ms Moore, with young people saying there were no definitive rules about when sex occurred in a relationship. This depended on age and the "operating morals of the gang and the scene".
Most of the girls appeared to have little understanding of the long-term implications of being a young mother. "Teenage pregnancy is not necessarily a crisis, either at the individual or the community/societal level. Rather, it is accepted as a fact of life," said Ms Moore.