Brasilia, Brazil, Sep 6, 2008 / 17:02 pm
A new study has revealed that 22 percent of Brazilian teens aged 13 to 16 have already had sexual relations and frequently use the morning after pill to avoid pregnancy.
According to local media reports, some 6,300 students from 272 schools were interviewed for the study.
The percentage of pregnancies was high among those polled. Out of those who had already had sexual relations 42.3 percent had already gotten a girl pregnant in the case of the boys or had become pregnant in the case of the girls.
Psychiatrist Thiago Fidalgo of the Federal University of Sao Paulo said the study confirms the data from previous studies about the early sexual behavior of teens.
He said the study is a wake-up call to parents to spend more time discussing sexual matters with their children.