State of World Population 2012 - UNFPA Haiti

instances of early sexual initiation: more thana third of girls in some countries report thatcoercion was involved in their early sexual experiences(World Health Organization, 2012a).Recent analyses of data on sexual behaviouramong young people in 59 countries found nouniversal trend towards sex at younger ages;trends are complex and vary significantly byregion and marital status (Lloyd, 2005). At thesame time, global trends towards later marriagehave contributed to a diminishing proportion ofyoung women who report having had sex beforethe age of 15 (Lloyd, 2005; Greene and Merrick,n.d.). Notwithstanding, where child marriage isespecially prevalent—South Asia, and Central,West, and East Africa—the median age at firstintercourse for women is lower than in LatinAmerica and the Caribbean, for example. Foryoung men, age at first intercourse is not linkedto their marital status. These differences betweenyoung peoples’ experiences are most pronouncedin developing countries.Comparative assessments of adolescent sexualhealth between the United States and Europefind that young people begin to have sex atsimilar times, though with rather divergent outcomes.In the United States, 46 per cent of allhigh school age students have had sex (Centersfor Disease Control and Prevention, 2010).Despite similar levels of adolescent sexualactivity in several European countries, such asFrance, Germany and the Netherlands, sexuallyactive adolescents are significantly less likelyto experience pregnancy, birth, or abortion.Pregnancy, birth, and abortion rates among teenagegirls in the United States are approximatelythree, eight, and two times as high as theirEuropean peers (Advocates for Youth, 2011).The differences are attributable to Europeanpolicies that facilitate easier access to sexualhealth information and services for school-agedgirls and boys and that respect young peoples’rights and support their health: young peoplein Europe have greater access to comprehensivesexuality education and sexual health services,including family planning; there also tends tobe more open discussion of sexual activity withparents and in the society more broadly.Globally, marriage patterns are changing.Young women and men are marrying later, andthe number of countries where first sexual intercourseand marriage coincide for those undertJust-marriedcouple, Paris.©Panos/Martin RoemersTHE STATE OF WORLD POPULATION 201249