Study Shows Teens More Sexually Responsible Than Adults

ALEXANDRIA, VA--(Marketwire - Oct 28, 2011) - Sex education is working, and that's exactly what is needed to end the AIDS pandemic, according to Robert Fai, author of the novel "Habiba, My Habiba" (www.amazon.com under pseudonym Bob Danierla).

An expert who has seen the ravages of AIDS in Africa and around the world, Fai is encouraged by a new study that shows how increased awareness can result in more personal responsibility.

Indiana University's survey of more than 5,800 people revealed that boys ages 14 to 17 use condoms 79 percent of the time -- far more often than even slightly older young men.

The numbers decline significantly with age: 18- to 24-year-old men use condoms 45 percent of the time, while 25- to 34-year-olds use them 29 percent of the time.

"It sends a strong message to the global community trying to fight AIDS," says Fai, whose novel centers on life and romance in Africa's AIDS-ravaged nations.

"In the U.S., many public entities are driving the message home to teenagers to use condoms regularly, and the outreach is working. In other parts of the world, like Africa, the lack of sex education and the overriding culture have prevented that message from getting through."

According to the Health Protection Agency, the two groups most affected by HIV include gay and bisexual men and black African heterosexuals. Three-quarters of people diagnosed were among those two groups.

Fai, who has a master's degree in public policy and works for a not-for-profit advocacy group in Virginia, says education is one of the most effective weapons in fighting the disease. His novel aims to spread information in the form of a compelling narrative.

Researchers who participated in the National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior agreed the results indicate education is extremely effective in promoting safe sex practices.

"These data, when compared to other studies in the recent past, suggest that although condom use has increased among some groups, efforts to promote the use of condoms to sexually active individuals should remain a public health priority," said Michael Reece, director of the Center for Sexual Health Promotion.

About Robert Fai

Robert Fai holds a bachelor's degree in economics and a master's in public policy. A native of Cameroon, he lives in Alexandria, VA, where he works for a non-profit on issues affecting the disabled.