Teenagers have concept changed on Valentine’s day

BANGKOK, Feb 12 (TNA) -- About 86 per cent of teenage respondents in Thailand have their concept changed on St Valentine’s Day as they now believe it is unnecessary for them to have sex for the first time on that day, said Boonruang Triruangworawat, director-general of Public Health Ministry’s Mental Health Department. As the Valentine’s Day falls on this Tuesday, a survey was conducted on 1,250 secondary school and vocational students in Bangkok by the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Rajanagarindra Institute. The survey found that 86 per cent of the total respondents said Valentine’s Day has nothing to do with their decision to have sex. Some believe that parents should impose stricter control on their children on that day while many say sex can be held any day, said Dr Boonruang. He said the survey also found that 89 per cent of respondents used condoms, 75 per cent said using condoms was the best approach to prevent pregnancy and 1.5 per cent of male students said contraception was unnecessary. Also, 90 per cent of female respondents told their boyfriends to use condoms because they did not use any other form of contraception. Dr Boonruang said the survey found that the parents are the most important persons for troubled teenagers, therefore, the Valentine’s Day should be considered a good occasion for family members to display love among themselves or prepare favourite food for their children. (TNA)