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| Westerners 'are more promiscuous' | Westerners 'are more promiscuous' |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| People in western countries tend to have more sexual partners than those in the developing world, a study says. | People in western countries tend to have more sexual partners than those in the developing world, a study says. |
| Monogamy is dominant across the world, but multiple partners are more common in rich countries, according to the study published in the Lancet. | Monogamy is dominant across the world, but multiple partners are more common in rich countries, according to the study published in the Lancet. |
| This was despite developing countries having higher rates of sexually transmitted infections and HIV. | This was despite developing countries having higher rates of sexually transmitted infections and HIV. |
| London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine researchers gathered data from 59 countries for the study. | London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine researchers gathered data from 59 countries for the study. |
| They said factors such as poverty and mobility had more of a role in sexually transmitted infections than promiscuity had. | They said factors such as poverty and mobility had more of a role in sexually transmitted infections than promiscuity had. |
| But the team added that the findings showed teenagers were not having sex earlier, contrary to popular beliefs. | But the team added that the findings showed teenagers were not having sex earlier, contrary to popular beliefs. |
| The study said there had been no universal trend towards earlier sexual intercourse over the past three decades. | |
| Almost everywhere, sexual activity began for most men and women between 15 and 19 years of age, with men tending to start earlier. | Almost everywhere, sexual activity began for most men and women between 15 and 19 years of age, with men tending to start earlier. |
| In the UK the average age for men was 16.5 and for women 17.5. | In the UK the average age for men was 16.5 and for women 17.5. |
| Researchers said most people reported only having one sexual partner in the last year. | Researchers said most people reported only having one sexual partner in the last year. |
| However, those reporting multiple partners were much higher in developed countries - up to a third of under 25s in some areas - whereas only a small percentage in Africa reported the same. | However, those reporting multiple partners were much higher in developed countries - up to a third of under 25s in some areas - whereas only a small percentage in Africa reported the same. |
| And among singletons, westerners were more sexually active as well. | And among singletons, westerners were more sexually active as well. |
| Two thirds of men and women without a partner in African countries reported they had had sex recently, compared to three quarters of those in developed countries. | Two thirds of men and women without a partner in African countries reported they had had sex recently, compared to three quarters of those in developed countries. |
| Surprising | Surprising |
| The researchers said these findings were surprising, as higher rates of STIs were reported in developing countries. | The researchers said these findings were surprising, as higher rates of STIs were reported in developing countries. |
| But the report's author, Professor Kaye Wellings, said: "This suggests social factors such as poverty, mobility and gender equality may be a strong factor in sexual ill-health than promiscuity." | But the report's author, Professor Kaye Wellings, said: "This suggests social factors such as poverty, mobility and gender equality may be a strong factor in sexual ill-health than promiscuity." |
| And she added that the results showed flexible approaches to tackling public health had to be adopted. | And she added that the results showed flexible approaches to tackling public health had to be adopted. |
| "Men and women have sex for different reasons and in different ways in different settings," she said. | "Men and women have sex for different reasons and in different ways in different settings," she said. |
| "This diversity needs to be respected in a range of approaches tailored to whole societies, and to particular groups and individuals within them. | "This diversity needs to be respected in a range of approaches tailored to whole societies, and to particular groups and individuals within them. |
| "The selection of public-health messages needs to be guided by epidemiological evidence rather than by myths and moral stances." | "The selection of public-health messages needs to be guided by epidemiological evidence rather than by myths and moral stances." |
| A spokeswoman for Brook, the sexual health charity for young people, added: "There is still much to be done to improve sexual health in this country. | A spokeswoman for Brook, the sexual health charity for young people, added: "There is still much to be done to improve sexual health in this country. |
| "But the situation here does not compare to that of many developing countries where it can be very difficult to get condoms and to insist on their use, for a range of economic and cultural reasons." |