The Outlook-Synovate Teenage Opinion Poll

Outlook Web Desk

Updated on: 5 February 2022 9:49 pm

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The Outlook-Synovate Teenage Opinion Poll

COVER STORY

The Outlook-Synovate Teenage Opinion Poll

	Total			Delhi			Chennai			Calcutta			Mumbai
	Boys	Girls	All	Boys	Girls	All	Boys	Girls	All	Boys	Girls	All	Boys	Girls	All
All figures inpercentage
A1. Does yourschool offer regular information on Sexual Health (SH)?
Yes	52	49	51	72	11	46	59	85	70	17	35	26	59	69	63
No	48	51	49	28	89	54	41	15	30	83	65	74	41	31	37
A2. How oftenare you addressed on these issues?
Base : All Yesin.A1
a) Once a year	46	57	51	38	75	42	54	57	56	29	54	45	54	54	54
b) Once a term	25	20	23	35	25	34	21	18	19	0	8	5	21	29	25
c) Once a month	13	13	13	21	0	18	4	18	12	0	15	10	17	8	13
d) Once a week	12	7	10	6	0	5	13	4	8	71	23	40	4	4	4
e) Everyday in class	3	3	3	0	0	0	8	4	6	0	0	0	4	4	4
A3. What is the forum in which you receive such information?
Base : All Yesin.A1
a) Workshops	7	16	11	0	25	3	8	7	8	0	0	0	17	33	25
b) Value education classes	19	35	26	12	0	11	8	43	27	29	62	50	38	17	27
c) Biology	44	35	40	65	50	63	50	36	42	14	23	20	17	38	27
d) Moral science	15	7	11	15	0	13	25	14	19	0	8	5	8	0	4
e) Others	16	7	12	9	25	11	8	0	4	57	8	25	21	13	17
A4. Sincewhich class have you received such information?
Base : All Yesin.A1
a) Class 4-5	1	0	1	3	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
b) Class 6-7	4	7	6	3	25	5	0	14	8	29	0	10	4	0	2
c) Class 8-9	63	57	60	74	50	71	46	46	46	57	100	85	67	46	56
d) Class 10-11	27	29	28	15	25	16	50	36	42	14	0	5	25	38	31
e) Class 12 & above	4	7	6	6	0	5	4	4	4	0	0	0	4	17	10
A5. What isyour main source of information on Sexual Health?
a) Friends/peers	49	45	47	57	77	66	29	6	19	63	54	59	44	40	42
b) Media	23	20	22	23	9	17	22	36	28	22	16	19	24	20	22
c) Pornography	8	6	7	13	9	11	0	0	0	10	3	6	7	11	9
d) Educators/schools	11	21	15	2	0	1	22	55	36	0	8	4	20	26	22
e) Parents	5	5	5	2	0	1	7	0	4	5	16	10	5	3	4
f) Others	5	1	3	2	0	1	20	3	12	0	0	0	0	0	0
g) None of the above	0	2	1	0	6	2	0	0	0	0	3	1	0	0	0
A6. Throughwhat media do you access information on SH of your own?
a) Movies	34	45	39	40	69	52	17	36	26	37	41	38	39	34	37
c) Internet	26	20	23	30	23	27	17	27	22	20	14	17	37	17	28
c) Magazines	27	24	26	23	9	17	32	24	28	32	24	28	22	40	30
d) Other sources	14	9	12	6	0	4	34	9	23	12	22	17	2	6	4
e)None of the above	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	3	1	0	0	0	0	3	1
A7. Has accessto SH material made you more
a) Aware	48	66	56	38	80	56	44	52	47	59	81	69	51	49	50
b) Sexually active	33	16	25	51	3	30	17	30	23	22	8	15	39	23	32
c) Alive to consequences of unsafe sexual practices	14	14	14	11	9	10	24	12	19	15	11	13	7	23	14
d) Alive to myths andmisconceptions	5	4	5	0	6	2	15	3	9	5	0	3	2	6	4
e) None of the above	0	1	1	0	3	1	0	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
A8. Is yourschool able to meet your needs/adequately address questions you may have relating to sex and SH?
Yes	47	35	42	83	23	57	41	48	45	12	16	14	46	54	50
No	53	63	57	17	69	39	59	52	55	88	84	86	54	46	50
None	0	2	1	0	9	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
A9. What comesin the way of this communication relating to sex and SH?
a)Lack of goods available material	32	17	25	45	23	35	17	6	12	20	22	21	44	17	32
b)Discomfort of teachers	29	27	28	43	54	48	17	30	23	32	8	21	24	17	21
c)Your own reluctance	15	26	20	6	6	6	24	21	23	22	49	35	10	29	18
d)Others reasons	23	28	25	6	11	9	41	42	42	27	22	24	20	37	28
e) None of the above	1	1	1	0	6	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	1
A10. Is SHeducation a must in schools
Yes	87	90	88	89	94	91	76	73	74	93	95	94	90	97	93
No	13	10	12	11	6	9	24	27	26	7	5	6	10	3	7
B1. Have youhad any sexual experience so far?
Yes	31	14	23	55	17	39	17	0	9	37	11	24	12	26	18
No	69	86	77	45	83	61	83	100	91	63	89	76	88	74	82
B2. Howfrequently have you been having sex?
Base : All Yes in.B1
a) Once in three months	19	32	22	15	50	22	14	0	14	20	25	21	40	22	29
b) Once a month	32	42	35	38	33	38	29	0	29	20	50	26	40	44	43
c) Once a week	32	11	26	27	0	22	29	0	29	53	0	42	0	22	14
d) More often	15	11	14	19	17	19	29	0	29	7	25	11	0	0	0
None of the above	2	5	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	20	11	14
B3. How manypartners you have encountered with?
Base : All Yes in.B1
a) One	47	89	58	31	83	41	57	0	57	60	75	63	80	100	93
b) Two	26	5	21	42	17	38	14	0	14	7	0	5	20	0	7
c) Three	13	0	10	15	0	13	14	0	14	13	0	11	0	0	0
d) More than three	4	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	13	0	11	0	0	0
e) Did not count	9	5	8	12	0	9	14	0	14	7	25	11	0	0	0
B4. Which of thefollowing have you experienced?
Base : All Yes in.B1
a) Kissing	23	47	29	4	17	6	43	0	43	27	25	26	80	78	79
b) Necking	2	11	4	4	17	6	0	0	0	0	25	5	0	0	0
c) Touching	15	11	14	4	17	6	43	0	43	20	25	21	20	0	7
d) Intercourse	60	32	53	88	50	81	14	0	14	53	25	47	0	22	14
B5. Who was itwith?
Base : All Yes in.B1
a) Friend	72	89	76	65	83	69	43	0	43	87	100	89	100	89	93
b) Neighbour	6	5	6	8	17	9	14	0	14	0	0	0	0	0	0
c) Family	2	0	1	4	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
d) Strangers	9	0	7	12	0	9	29	0	29	0	0	0	0	0	0
e) Others	11	5	10	12	0	9	14	0	14	13	0	11	0	11	7
B6. Do you usecontraception?
Base : All Yes in.B1
Yes	70	32	60	77	50	72	71	0	71	73	0	58	20	33	29
No	30	68	40	23	50	28	29	0	29	27	100	42	80	67	71
B7. Which of thefollowing do you use?
Base : All Yes in.B6
a) Condoms	86	83	86	90	100	91	40	0	40	100	0	100	100	67	75
b) Pill	3	17	5	0	0	0	20	0	20	0	0	0	0	33	25
c) Emergency contraceptives	3	0	2	5	0	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
d) Withdrawal	8	0	7	5	0	4	40	0	40	0	0	0	0	0	0
B8. I have sexbecause:
Base : All Yes in.B1
a) I feel I am ready for it	32	21	29	23	17	22	14	0	14	40	50	42	80	11	36
b) Most of my friends have it	15	16	15	23	33	25	29	0	29	0	0	0	0	11	7
c) Its great fun	40	37	39	46	33	44	14	0	14	47	25	42	20	44	36
d) I can't say no	6	16	8	8	0	6	14	0	14	0	25	5	0	22	14
f) Other reasons	8	11	8	0	17	3	29	0	29	13	0	11	0	11	7
B9. Do you havesex after:
Base : All Yes in.B1
a) Drinking	26	21	25	19	17	19	43	0	43	33	50	37	20	11	14
b) Popping party drugs	8	0	6	12	0	9	14	0	14	0	0	0	0	0	0
c) None of the above	66	79	69	69	83	72	43	0	43	67	50	63	80	89	86
B10. When did youloose your virginity?
Base : All Yes in.B1
a) 11-14 yrs	32	16	28	54	17	47	43	0	43	0	25	5	0	11	7
b) 15-17	53	74	58	46	83	53	57	0	57	53	75	58	80	67	71
c) 18 & above	13	5	11	0	0	0	0	0	0	47	0	37	0	11	7
d) None of the above	2	5	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	20	11	14
B11. Have you hadcybersex ever?
Yes	34	21	28	57	11	38	7	0	4	39	22	31	29	51	39
No	66	76	70	43	89	62	93	91	92	61	78	69	71	46	59
None	0	3	1	0	0	0	0	9	4	0	0	0	0	3	1
B12. Should youdelay having sex until you are married?
Yes	55	60	57	47	71	57	80	45	65	44	81	62	49	40	45
No	44	39	42	49	26	39	20	52	34	56	19	38	51	60	55
None of the above	1	1	1	4	3	4	0	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
C1. A baby isborn naturally through the mother's navel or stomach.
Yes	55	26	42	77	23	54	66	58	62	20	8	14	54	20	38
No	45	69	56	23	60	39	34	42	38	80	92	86	46	80	62
None of the above	0	4	2	0	17	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
C2. Condoms are100 per cent effective in preventing pregnancies?
Yes	72	41	58	77	63	71	71	24	50	61	16	40	78	60	70
No	28	58	41	23	31	27	27	76	49	39	84	60	22	40	30
None of the above	1	1	1	0	6	2	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
C3. HIV AIDS islimited to homosexuals and sex-workers?
Yes	31	26	29	47	17	34	20	21	20	15	14	14	39	54	46
No	69	71	70	53	74	62	80	79	80	85	86	86	59	46	53
None of the above	1	2	1	0	9	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	1
C4. Masturbationcan make you weak?
Yes	54	23	40	77	23	54	61	33	49	39	14	27	34	23	29
No	46	74	59	23	66	41	39	67	51	61	86	73	66	77	71
None	0	3	1	0	11	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
C5. Menstruationis a means of expelling unclean blood from the body
Yes	60	59	59	68	26	50	39	55	46	56	54	55	76	100	87
No	40	39	39	32	63	45	61	45	54	44	46	45	24	0	13
None of the above	0	3	1	0	11	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
C6. Once a girlhas her first period she can become pregnant.
Yes	70	60	65	72	34	56	49	48	49	85	89	87	73	66	70
No	30	38	34	28	60	41	51	52	51	15	11	13	27	31	29
None of the above	0	2	1	0	6	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	1
C7. Before a girlhas had her first period, she can become pregnant
Yes	25	19	22	32	54	41	27	21	24	12	3	8	27	0	14
No	75	81	78	68	46	59	73	79	76	88	97	92	73	100	86
C8. It isunhealthy for a girl to bathe or swim during her period.
Yes	45	41	43	68	71	70	46	36	42	20	14	17	41	43	42
No	55	59	57	32	29	30	51	64	57	80	86	83	59	57	58
None of the above	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
C9. Abstinence isthe only method of preventing STD/HIV AIDS and pregnancy that is 100 per cent effective
Yes	52	35	45	83	23	57	39	24	32	29	43	36	54	49	51
No	46	61	53	15	69	38	61	76	68	68	54	62	46	46	46
None of the above	1	4	3	2	9	5	0	0	0	2	3	3	0	6	3
C10. Girls &boys get sexually transmitted diseases without having symptoms
Yes	55	29	43	72	23	51	46	27	38	56	57	56	44	6	26
No	44	69	55	26	66	43	54	73	62	44	43	44	56	94	74
None of the above	1	3	2	2	11	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
C11. A girlcannot get pregnant if she has sex only once or a few times
Yes	38	21	30	62	20	44	34	21	28	24	22	23	27	23	25
No	62	76	68	38	71	52	66	79	72	76	76	76	73	77	75
None of the above	0	3	1	0	9	4	0	0	0	0	3	1	0	0	0
C12. A girl canget pregnant if she has sex during her periods.
Yes	56	27	43	83	26	59	54	18	38	34	30	32	51	34	43
No	44	71	56	17	69	39	46	82	62	66	70	68	49	66	57
None of the above	0	1	1	0	6	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
C13. Condoms helpprevent the spread of STDs
Yes	88	65	78	96	69	84	80	21	54	88	68	78	88	100	93
No	12	32	21	4	20	11	20	79	46	12	32	22	12	0	7
None of the above	0	3	1	0	11	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
C14. The size ofthe penis is a measure of masculinity
Yes	56	15	38	85	14	55	44	12	30	27	14	21	66	20	45
No	44	82	61	15	77	41	56	85	69	73	86	79	34	80	55
None of the above	0	3	1	0	9	4	0	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
C15. Being ahomosexual is abnormal
Yes	55	47	51	68	43	57	56	52	54	37	43	40	56	51	54
No	45	53	49	32	57	43	44	48	46	63	57	60	44	49	46
C16. A girl canget pregnant even if a boy does not ejaculate inside her
Base : All Respondents	170	140	310	47	35	82	41	33	74	41	37	78	41	35	76
Yes	31	12	23	47	3	28	32	9	22	15	5	10	29	31	30
No	69	87	77	53	97	72	68	88	77	85	95	90	71	69	70
None of the above	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
C17. Menstruationis unclean
Yes	57	39	49	62	31	49	61	30	47	37	14	26	68	83	75
No	43	58	50	38	57	46	39	70	53	63	86	74	32	17	25
None of the above	0	3	1	0	11	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
C18.The female determines the sex of the baby
Yes	40	24	33	53	26	41	27	24	26	17	3	10	61	43	53
No	58	74	65	43	63	51	68	76	72	83	97	90	39	57	47
None of the above	2	3	3	4	11	7	5	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0
C19. Nightemissions make a boy weak
Yes	49	31	41	83	23	57	27	30	28	29	24	27	51	46	49
No	51	66	58	17	66	38	73	70	72	71	76	73	49	51	50
None of the above	0	4	2	0	11	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	1
C20. Masturbationharms a person physically
Yes	47	19	34	68	23	49	51	30	42	32	5	19	34	17	26
No	53	79	65	32	66	46	49	70	58	68	95	81	66	83	74
None of the above	0	3	1	0	11	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
C21. Circumcisionincreases sexual power of the man
Yes	52	34	44	77	31	57	39	30	35	27	14	21	63	60	62
No	46	64	54	23	57	38	59	70	64	71	86	78	37	40	38
None of the above	1	3	2	0	11	5	2	0	1	2	0	1	0	0	0
C22. Oral sex canmake you pregnant
Yes	8	7	8	4	3	4	10	15	12	2	3	3	17	9	13
No	92	93	92	96	97	96	90	85	88	98	97	97	83	91	87
C23. Deep kissingcan make you pregnant
Yes	5	4	4	4	0	2	10	6	8	0	3	1	5	6	5
No	95	96	96	96	100	98	90	94	92	100	97	99	95	94	95
C24. Boys have astomach ache when the semen is ejaculated
Yes	38	12	26	70	14	46	15	3	9	39	16	28	22	14	18
No	62	84	72	30	74	49	85	94	89	59	84	71	78	83	80
None of the above	1	4	2	0	11	5	0	3	1	2	0	1	0	3	1
C25. HIV AIDS canspread through razors/needles and syringes
Yes	81	69	75	87	40	67	71	48	61	90	92	91	73	94	83
No	19	29	24	13	51	29	29	52	39	10	8	9	27	6	17
None of the above	0	2	1	0	9	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

The Sample
Methodology

Outlook commissioned market research agency Synovate to conduct a study on the status of sexual health education in upmarket schools in Indian metros. It was aimed at capturing the level of awareness among adolescents on sexual health education, the myths and misconceptions. Synovate interviewed boys/girls between 13-17 years studying in Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Chennai. The total sample base: 310 respondents. Boy and girl students in 8th class to 12th class were polled as by this age they have attained puberty. To capture the truth with sensitivity, total anonymity was assured at the outset. The target group though had to specify age and gender. Since the issues concerned are sensitive, only male interviewers under 25 years spoke to boys; girls were only met by women interviewers, also under 25.

TotalDelhiChennaiCalcuttaMumbai BoysGirlsAllBoysGirlsAllBoysGirlsAllBoysGirlsAllBoysGirlsAllBase : All Respondents(Numbers)170140310473582413374413778413576Delhi -(%)282526100100100000000000Chennai (%)242424000100100100000000Kolkata- (%)242625000000100100100000Mumbai- (%)242525000000000100100100Age:Age 10-15 (Years)31423651374537584602412325141Age16-22 (Years)6958644963556342541007688684959Average Age (Years)1615.71615.415.715.615.615.215.417.41617161516Gender Male - (%)100055100057100055100053100054Female - (%)010045010043010045010047010046Studyingin class8 th. (%)6108152017233000717129 (IX) (%)1116131920201527200317171210 (X) (%)1527211923212042305321817111411 (XI) (%)2614213020264132412141320202012 (XII) (%)423237171717222423835168493442

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