A survey of children aged 9-17 found that they thought there was too much sex on television, and that media and pop stars gratuitously used nakedness as a marketing tool.
Source: David Buckingham and Sara Bragg, Young People, Media and Personal Relationships, Broadcasting Standards Commission (020 7808 1000)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Nov
The Church of England published a guide to current public debates on human sexuality, such as homosexuality, bisexuality and transsexualism.
Source: Working Party of the House of Bishops, Some Issues in Human Sexuality: Guide to the debate, Church of England, available from Church House Publishing (020 7898 1451)
Links: Summary | C of E press release
Date: 2003-Nov
A report described a survey of parents' concerns regarding the sexual behaviour of their (mainly) teenage children. Parents worried in particular about their children having underage sex and becoming pregnant. The report said that parents needed more support both with communication and with changes to family relationships as their children started to grow up.
Source: Talking about Sex and Relationships: What parents worry about, Parentline plus (020 7284 5500)
Links: Report (Word file)
Date: 2003-Oct
The most popular method of contraception among women aged under 50 in 2002-03 was the contraceptive pill (used by 25 per cent of women aged 16-49), followed by the male condom (20 per cent). The figures were similar to those seen in each year since 1997-98.
Source: Fiona Dawe and Howard Meltzer, Contraception and Sexual Health, 2002, Series OS 23, Office for National Statistics (0845 601 3034)
Links: Report (pdf) | ONS press release (pdf) | 2001 report (pdf)
Date: 2003-Sep
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on sexual health policies. At the same time it announced an additional 11 million for sexual health services.
Source: Government Response to the Health Select Committee s Third Report of Session 2002-03 on Sexual Health, Cm 5959, Department of Health, TSO (0870 600 5522) | Press release 10 September 2003, Department of Health (020 7210 4850)
Links: Links to response removed by DH | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Sep
A committee of MPs said that the government's sexual health strategy (published in 2001) was 'an excellent starting point' for promoting improvements in the nation's sexual health. Campaigners and health professionals warned of a public health emergency threatened by rapidly rising levels of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
Source: Sexual Health, Third Report (Session 2002-03), HC 69-I, House of Commons Health Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522) | Press release 11.6.03, Terrence Higgins Trust (020 7831 0330) with seven other organisations
Links: Report | THT press release (pdf) | NCB press release | BMA press release | RCP press release | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Jun
A new book argued that schools should take account of the increasing sexualisation of children, and that sex education should involve more than the transmission of facts. Homosexuality, love and the pitfalls of teenage pregnancy should be discussed in sex education classes to help pupils deal with the realities of life.
Source: Michael Reiss and Mark Halstead, Values in Sex Education: From principles to practice, RoutledgeFalmer, available from Institute of Education/University of London (020 7612 6050)
Links: IOE press release
Date: 2003-May