County praised for sex education

Peer pressure is the biggest factor in young people having sex

Cornwall is leading the way in tackling teenage pregnancies, according to the county's sexual health professionals.

Delegates at a conference in Newquay are being told the way sex education is taught in Cornwall is so effective, it is being rolled out across the country.

One of the main thrusts of the conference is to try to understand why teenagers are having sex so early.

Many young people say the advice to delay having sex until they are older is not realistic.

Cornwall has been a leader for the whole of the UK on this really vital issue Jo Adams, National Centre for HIV and Sexual Health

Jo Adams, the director of the national Centre for HIV and Sexual Health in Sheffield said: "There is a large number of young people who have sex early, and by early I mean 12, 13 and 14, and actually subsequently regret it. The levels of regret are incredibly high, both in boys and in girls."

Ms Adams says although most young people talk about having sex before they are 16, the statistics show the majority do not have sex until they are over 16.

Peer pressure

Cornwall's sex education programme includes dealing with the issue of peer pressure, which is thought to be the major reason young people have sex.

The issues are now being picked up by many groups across the country.

The national programme will encourage young people to delay having sex and will offer education, advice and support on sexually transmitted diseases, condom use and methods of contraception.