Indian medical experts are somewhat skeptical about the just-released global survey conducted by Durex on first sex experience. Besides questioning the methodology of the Durex Sexual Wellbeing Global Survey, 2007, sexologists find a few loopholes and doubt its applicability in the Indian context.
The survey had been carried out in 26 countries in July and August 2006, and has got 26,032 responses. According to this survey, people now are more likely to use contraception than ever before. Teenagers between the ages of 16-19 having sex are at least eight times more likely to have used contraception for their sexual debut than were people now aged 65 or over.
"It is obvious that people will use contraceptives more now. Around 40 years back, there was no condom promotion campaign, the concept of family planning did not exist and HIV/AIDS was unknown," says chairman of the counsel of sex education and parenthood international, Dr D. Narayana Reddy expressing surprise that such a survey encompassing 26 countries took just two months.
"These kind of detailed survey takes years of research by experts," he adds, The report also states that contraceptives are more likely to be used during first sex at 17, but from 18 years onwards, their usage declines. Doctors opine that if youngsters are aware enough to practise safe sex, then why will they stop using it after a year? "It may be because the youth are well acquainted with the partner now or decided to get married and have a child," says R. Srinivasan, Vice President, Marketing, TTK-LIG limited adding that there’s no co-relation between HIV/STIs and usage of contraceptives. Another claim by the report, which the doctors refute, is that pressure to have sex, alcohol, risks of sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies do not appear to have any influence on the contraceptive use at first sex. "In India, the main reasons why unmarried couples use contraceptives are either because they want to avoid any risk of unwanted pregnancies or to reduce the risk of STIs," says Dr Mahinder Watsa, consultant, sexual medicine and former medical director of Family Planning Association, India. Dr Reddy and city-based venerologist Dr Venkataramana also agree with Dr Watsa. As for the usage of contraceptives among married couples being 61 per cent less than unmarried ones, Dr Reddy says, "I find married people using them more than anyone else. It may be because many of them have extra marital affairs and don’t want to risk STIs."
The factors that influence people to use contraception are varied. However, the data provided by the survey shows that 39.7 per cent people in India use condoms during first sex, which are roughly four out of 10 people. The highest usage is only in Japan and Greece, where roughly six out of 10 people use contraceptives. Despite all the promotion and awareness, lots of people in the country resort to unprotected sex, says Dr Watsa.
"If the sexual debut is unplanned or taking place where condom is not readily available, safe sex is not practised. Also blame the non-usage on the easily accessible pornographic sites and CDs and lack of proper sex education." A false presumption that the partner is free from any disease deters the use of condoms according to Dr Venkataramana.
Contrary to the general belief that higher the education, greater the usage of contraceptives, according to Dr Reddy, many well-educated people are reluctant to ask the shopkeepers for condoms. While some among them consider using contraceptives less pleasurable as it creates a barrier during sexual intercourse.
"Actually, holistically, the usage of contraceptives has not much increased. and is restricted to one stratum in our society, who like to experiment with the variety available in the market," concludes Dr Reddy."
Some loopholes
* Doctors say the most important reasons why unmarried couples use contraceptives is either because they want to avoid unwanted pregnancies while the report says unwanted pregnancies do not appear to have any influence on the contraceptive use during first time sex.
* The report fails to explain why contraceptives are more likely to be used during first sex at 17, but from 18 years onwards, their usage declines. Doctors opine that if youngsters are aslready aware how to practise of safe sex, why would they suddenly stop after a year.
