According to a recent survey, it seems that Cambridge University’s acclaimed educational village is lacking one vital resource. 309 students were surveyed about sexual health awareness and the results were frightening to say the least. Half of those surveyed admitted to having had unprotected sex at some stage and half of the group also believed that women were not at risk of pregnancy once they were menstruating.
10% of the group believed that wearing 2 condoms during sex would reduce their risk of catching a sexually transmitted disease. Furthermore, at the survey’s outset, 92% of the group said that they felt confident about their knowledge of sexual health and contraception.
Last year, the Health Protection Agency noted 12,000 more cases of sexually transmitted infections reported compared with the year before and also highlighted that the 15 to 24 year olds represented the most at risk age bracket.
Of course this ignorance is not specific to Cambridge students but to all young people. Really, the main observation is the 92% who felt confident about what they knew. If they are not aware of what they do not know, how can they be expected to learn? The information simply is either not accessible or is not taught in schools.