Nearly half of all women calling in to Shanghai's first hotline for unexpected pregnancies are students, revealed hotline officials on Sunday to promote sexual awareness among ahead of World Population Day on Wednesday.

 

In the two years since the hotline (6587 6866) was launched, the No. 411 Hospital of the People's Liberation Army has received about 20,000 calls for consultations and help.

 

Detailed stats showed that around 45.38 percent of callers are students with 31 percent being migrant women.

 

"Among the students, 45 percent come from vocational and technical schools, 25 percent from universities, 20 percent from high schools and 10 percent from middle schools," said Dr Yu Dongyan, the hotline director, adding that many callers were younger than 20 and some below the age of 15.

 

During the last two years, the hospital gave out 10,000 packs of morning-after pills and provided discounted or free medical services as well as psychological support to around 250 pregnant young women.

 

Alarmingly, over 90 percent of the girls visited the hospital with friends or classmates and without their parents' knowledge.

 

"Summer vacation is a peak season for the hotline, which received 285 calls in the holiday's first week," said Dr Zhang Zhengrong, from the hospital. "Some girls even claimed they have had relationships with boyfriends without knowing their real names, since they are just Internet friends."

 

A woeful factor is the lack of knowledge about contraception, with local youngsters entering puberty at the age of 12 without regular sex education from schools or parents.

 

According to previous research by the hotline, 79 percent of students said the Internet was their primary source of sex ed while 46 percent slammed shamefully inadequate school sex-education programs.

 

"It is very important to teach young people about reproductive health and proper communication with the opposite sex," said Liu Shusheng, director of the Huangpu District Population and Family Planning Commission. "Young women should learn to protect themselves, while young men should enhance social responsibility. "Avoiding the topic will only mislead them."

 

(Shanghai Daily July 10, 2007)