Are H-reflex and M-wave recruitment curve parameters related to aerobic capacity?

Soleus Hoffmann reflex (H-reflex) amplitude is affected by a training period and type and level of training are also well known to modify aerobic capacities. Previously, paired changes in H-reflex and aerobic capacity have been evidenced after endurance training. The aim of this study was to investigate possible links between H- and M-recruitment curve parameters and aerobic capacity collected on a cohort of subjects (56 young men) that were not involved in regular physical training. Maximal H-reflex normalized with respect to maximal M-wave (H(max)/M(max)) was measured as well as other parameters of the H- or M-recruitment curves that provide information about the reflex or direct excitability of the motoneuron pool, such as thresholds of stimulus intensity to obtain H or M response (H(th) and M(th)), the ascending slope of H-reflex, or M-wave recruitment curves (H(slp) and M(slp)) and their ratio (H(slp)/M(slp)). Aerobic capacity, i.e., maximal oxygen consumption and maximal aerobic power (MAP) were, respectively, estimated from a running field test and from an incremental test on a cycle ergometer. Maximal oxygen consumption was only correlated with M(slp), an indicator of muscle fiber heterogeneity (p?< 0.05), whereas MAP was not correlated with any of the tested parameters (p?> 0.05). Although higher H-reflex are often described for subjects with a high aerobic capacity because of endurance training, at a basic level (i.e., without training period context) no correlation was observed between maximal H-reflex and aerobic capacity. Thus, none of the H-reflex or M-wave recruitment curve parameters, except M(slp), was related to the aerobic capacity of young, untrained male subjects.     

What young men know about testicular cancer

A survey to assess what young men know about testicular cancer and to determine awareness and practice of testicular self-examination (TSE) was conducted among 266 male graduate and undergraduate students at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Findings indicate that the majority of young men were either uninformed or misinformed about their risk of getting testicular cancer and about the symptoms of testicular cancer. Only 16% of respondents had heard of TSE before the survey, and only a small percentage of these individuals reported doing TSE on a routine basis. The findings from this study point out the need for increased public education directed at symptom recognition, especially at the high school and post-high school levels.     

A perspective on fat intake in athletes

Performance in endurance events is dependent upon the maximal aerobic power, the percentage of that power that can be sustained and the availability of substrates (carbohydrates [CHO] and fats). The purpose of this paper is to present a perspective of recent studies that demonstrate the role of fat intake and oxidation on endurance performance. Studies have shown that fatigue is associated with reduced muscle glycogen and that increasing muscle glycogen or blood glucose prolongs performance while increasing fat and decreasing CHO decreases performance. This has led to an emphasis on CHO intake in athletes in endurance sports, which quite often leads to low caloric intake. It is well known that trained subjects have higher levels of fat oxidative capacity, which spares glycogen during endurance sports. Data from recent studies in trained athletes, who were fed iso-caloric high-fat diets (42% to 55%) that maintained adequate CHO levels, have shown an increase in endurance in both men and women when compared to diets composed of low fat intake (10% to 15%). The magnitude of the effect on endurance was significant at high percentages of maximal aerobic power and increased as the percentage of maximal aerobic power decreased. Based on this review, a baseline diet comprising 20% protein, 30% CHO and 30% fat, with the remaining 20% of the calories distributed between CHO and fat based on the intensity and duration of the sport, is recommended for discussion and future research.     

A Perspective on Fat Intake in Athletes

Performance in endurance events is dependent upon the maximal aerobic power, the percentage of that power that can be sustained and the availability of substrates (carbohydrates [CHO] and fats). The purpose of this paper is to present a perspective of recent studies that demonstrate the role of fat intake and oxidation on endurance performance. Studies have shown that fatigue is associated with reduced muscle glycogen and that increasing muscle glycogen or blood glucose prolongs performance while increasing fat and decreasing CHO decreases performance. This has led to an emphasis on CHO intake in athletes in endurance sports, which quite often leads to low caloric intake. It is well known that trained subjects have higher levels of fat oxidative capacity, which spares glycogen during endurance sports. Data from recent studies in trained athletes, who were fed iso-caloric high-fat diets (42% to 55%) that maintained adequate CHO levels, have shown an increase in endurance in both men and women when compared to diets composed of low fat intake (10% to 15%). The magnitude of the effect on endurance was significant at high percentages of maximal aerobic power and increased as the percentage of maximal aerobic power decreased. Based on this review, a baseline diet comprising 20% protein, 30% CHO and 30% fat, with the remaining 20% of the calories distributed between CHO and fat based on the intensity and duration of the sport, is recommended for discussion and future research.     

Adolescent sexuality education and sources of information

A survey of 959 young females (ages 10-21 years) from India highlighted the importance of educational attainment to fertility-related behaviors. Respondents represented a spectrum of educational levels: school drop-outs (32%), primary and secondary school attendees (41%), and college students (27%). The mean age at menarche was 13.6 years. School drop-outs were most likely to have obtained information about sexuality from films and other mass media, while students cited friends and neighbors as primary sources. There was an positive association between educational level and both preferred age at marriage and intended interval from marriage to first birth. 42% of adolescents with a secondary or college education planned to marry after 23 years of age and 84% wanted to defer childbearing for at least two years after marriage. The desire for formal sex education was strong in all educational subgroups (about 62%), however. It has been estimated that postponement of the marriage age from 16 years to 20-21 years would result in a 20-30% decrease in the annual number of births in India. School-based sex education represents a feasible mechanism for helping to achieve this goal.     

AIDS related information,attitudes and behaviours among Italian male young people

In order to evaluate the AIDS related sources of information, knowledge, attitudes and behaviours among male young people it was filled in a multi-choice anonymous questionnaire by 2018 subjects, called for the first medical examination to Italian Navy and by 1348 recruits. The data from the latter group were used to make comparisons with our previous survey carried out in 1988. The most important sources of information on AIDS were mass media and school, on sexuality friends and family. AIDS awareness was greater among the high educated subjects and positively influenced by mass media and school as sources of information. In agreement with these data, knowledge was better about AIDS than about sexuality. Risk perception was positively influenced by the AIDS-related knowledge for called youth and a greater intolerance towards infected people was observed among the less educated and the less AIDS-aware subjects. On average 46% of the called up young men and 74% of recruits declared to be sexually active: among these, the mean age at the first sexual intercourse was 16, over 60% declared to have had multiple partners, over 30% unknown partners and over 30% didn't use condoms; 20% of called up and 38% of recruits indicated 2 or 3 risk behaviours. Factors determining sex-related risks were different according to the behaviour and the considered group. These results suggest that it is important for young people to be well informed about sex and AIDS before the beginning of sexual activity, if possible during compulsory school.     

Children’s Aerobic Fitness and Academic Achievement: A Longitudinal Examination of Students During Their Fifth and Seventh Grade Years

Objectives. We assessed children’s potential differences in academic achievement based on aerobic fitness over a 2-year period.Methods. The longitudinal study sample included 3 cohorts of students (n = 1725; 50.1% male) enrolled in a West Virginia public school system. Students received baseline fitness and academic assessments as fifth graders and at a 2-year follow-up assessment. We used FitnessGram to assess fitness in aerobic capacity and WESTEST, a criterion-based assessment, for academic performance.Results. Students who stayed in the healthy fitness zone (HFZ) had significantly higher WESTEST scores than did students who stayed in the needs improvement zone (NIZ). Students who moved into or out of the HFZ occasionally had significantly higher WESTEST scores than did students who stayed in the NIZ, but they were rarely significantly lower than those of students who stayed in the HFZ.Conclusions. Students’ aerobic capacity is associated with greater academic achievement as defined by standardized test scores. This advantage appears to be maintained over time, especially if the student stays in the HFZ.Multiple studies have examined the variety of benefits that physical activity and physical fitness offer youths. The health benefits of physical activity for children of any age (e.g., physical, physiological, emotional) are well documented.1–11 A growing body of research has built an argument for positive associations between physical activity, physical fitness, and academic achievement.In 2003, a meta-analysis by Sibley and Etnier12 established that more physically active students perform better on a variety of tasks than students who are not as physically active. The investigators particularly noted that this level of performance was also found among physically active students who had experienced fewer hours of academic instruction time. A 2005 literature review by Taras13 documented evidence of short-term cognitive benefits of physical activity.More recently, studies in California,14 Massachusetts,15 and West Virginia16 have demonstrated a significant positive association between the number of FitnessGram tests passed and academic achievement test performance. These assessments measure 3 health-related fitness areas: (1) aerobic capacity, (2) body composition, and (3) muscular strength, endurance, and flexibility; they are scored by criterion-referenced standards.17 Other studies have found that academic achievement is most associated with aerobic fitness, generally the FitnessGram mile run or the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER), a back-and-forth run across a 20-meter space at a pace defined on a beep-only or music audiotape.18–20 Additional research has provided further evidence that time away from the desk for physical education does not appear to affect academic achievement.21,22 However, further work is needed to understand the extent to which physical activity affects student performance as measured by academic achievement.Longitudinal fitness effects on student academics are limited. In one study, Aberg et al. used compulsory screening results from all Swedish men born from 1950 to 1976. They found that aerobic fitness levels from ages 15 to 18 predicted cognitive performance at age 18.23 Examining similar outcomes among young children and in reference to their physical and academic performance could have significant clinical and policy implications. Accordingly, we explored the effects of aerobic fitness over a 2-year period on student academic achievement test scores. Sufficient evidence exists to predict differences in academic achievement between children in the healthy fitness zone (HFZ) and children in the needs improvement zone (NIZ) for aerobic fitness. However, greater evidence is needed to decipher the impact of children’s fitness on their academic achievement over time. We therefore used a longitudinal examination to assess potential differences in academic achievement among children on the basis of their aerobic fitness FitnessGram category in the 2-year period.     

Influences of body composition upon the relative metabolic and cardiovascular demands of load-carriage

AIM: To test the hypothesis that measures of aerobic fitness, body mass and indices of body composition will influence the metabolic and cardiovascular demands of simulated load-carriage tasks. METHOD: Twenty-eight healthy male volunteers, following assessment of maximal oxygen uptake (O(2)max) and body composition, walked on a treadmill at 4 kph (1.11 m/s) for 60 min on gradients of 0, 3, 6 and 9% whilst carrying backpack loads of 0, 20 and 40 kg. During the final 3 min of each 5-min exercise bout, indirect respiratory calorimetry and heart rate data were collected and the 'steady-state' metabolic O(2) and cardiovascular (heart rate) demands quantified. RESULTS: Absolute O(2)max (ml/min) produced the strongest correlation (r = -0.64, P < 0.01) with the metabolic demand of heavy load-carriage (40 kg). The body composition index lean body mass/(fat mass + external load) produced a moderate correlation (r = -0.52, P < 0.01) with the metabolic demand of heavy load-carriage. The increases in metabolic and cardiovascular demands were greater when the load carried increased from 20 to 40 kg compared with 0 to 20 kg at all four gradients. A model incorporating anthropometric and physiological characteristics with gradient and load explains 89% of the variability in the metabolic demands of load-carriage compared with 82% using gradient and load alone. CONCLUSION: The results show that indices of body composition as well as absolute aerobic power influence the relative metabolic demands of load-carriage. Application of these measurements would ensure selection criteria for load-carriage occupations are based on lean muscle mass rather than running speed.     

Virginity Requirement Versus Sexually-Active Young People: What Girls and Boys Think About Virginity in South Kivu,Democratic Republic of Congo

This article aims to explore Congolese male and female high school students’ cultural attitudes concerning virginity. The study employed a qualitative approach to collect data from 56 boys and girls aged 16–20 years old. Eight focus group discussions and 40 individual interviews were conducted among participants from two urban and two rural high schools in South Kivu province. Findings indicate that men are disappointed when they marry non-virgin girls. In fact, most male and female participants perceived girls who were virgins as trustworthy individuals. They believe that the girl’s virginity loss brings shame to her family. However, some female participants clearly dissociate from societal views or norms about virginity, and remark that virginity itself is not the key to a successful household nor a guarantee for remaining faithful after marriage. Such traditional norms—in the context of high levels of rape—place enormous pressure on young women and cause them to lie about virginity because they fear losing their fiancés. They indicated that they would lie about it regardless of any consequences they may encounter. In fact, some traditional beliefs need to be challenged and modified.     

Researching young people's sexuality and learning about sex: experience,need, and sex and relationship education

This paper describes findings from an in‐depth case study of young people's sexuality and learning about sex. Focus groups and unstructured interviews were conducted with young women and young men aged 15–16 years in a school in the north of England. Analysis focused on disjunctions between reported sexual behaviour in a park and in a bedsitting room, and the content of school sex and relationship education. Tensions between the accounts are considered for their impact on learning about sex, sexual negotiation, subjectivity and inter‐generational understanding. Despite some negative experiences in sex education, the young people interviewed desired the affirmation and support of adults, and recommend sex and relationship education as the most appropriate vehicle for providing this. The value added outcomes of participation in the study, including consciousness and awareness raising, and the opportunity for reflection and debate and selves as ‘experts’, enhanced young people's view that non‐judgemental and meaningful advice and guidance are possible in formal learning contexts. Implications for future forms of sex and relationship education are discussed.     

Physical capacity in relation to present and past physical load at work: a study of 484 men and women aged 41 to 58 years.

BACKGROUND: A negative association has previously been reported between long-lasting physically heavy work and some measures of physical capacity. This relationship was further investigated in a 24-year follow-up study of 484 middle-aged men and women from the general population. METHODS: A questionnaire was administered in 1993 concerning retrospective recall of physical work loads and physical training in the time span between 1970 and 1993. Laboratory tests performed in 1993 included tests of muscle function (maximal isometric strength and dynamic endurance) and aerobic power (submaximal ergometer test). RESULTS: Consistent with the hypothesis, but mainly among the women, associations between long-lasting physically heavy demands and low trunk flexion strength, squatting endurance, and aerobic power were observed. In contrast, low isometric hand grip strength and low weight lifting endurance were seldom seen among those with high physical work loads, indicating a possible maintaining or training effect on the hand/arm/shoulder muscle groups. CONCLUSIONS: Physically heavy work seems to have a different impact on different parts of the musculoskeletal system, an effect that is also different between men and women.     

Thermic effect of food during graded exercise in normal weight and obese men

The thermic effect of food during incremental cycle ergometer exercise was compared in six normal weight and six obese men (mean +/- SEM 104 +/- 5% and 160 +/- 11% ideal body weight, respectively). Graded exercise tests were performed after a 12-h fast and 60 min after the start of a 910 kcal mixed meal, on separate days. The thermic of food during exercise, which is the fed minus the fasting oxygen consumption (VO2), was significantly greater for the normal than the obese men at submaximal intensities from O (unloaded cycling) to 100 W (p less than 0.05). The mean slope of the regressions of VO2 (ml . min-1) on power output (W), which reflects the rate of increase in energy expended relative to increases in external work performed, did not differ significantly between the fed and fasting conditions for either group, but the mean (+/- SEM) intercept was significantly higher for the normal, but not the obese men, in the fed than the fasting state (599 +/- 53 versus 497 +/- 47 ml O2 . min-1 for the normal men and 819 +/- 126 versus 821 +/- 145 ml O2 . min-1 for the obese men). These results indicate that the thermic effect of food during exercise, which is virtually absent in the obese men, does not increase significantly across submaximal power outputs for the normal men and therefore does not reflect a significant reduction in efficiency.     

Driver and passenger seatbelt use among U.S. high school students

BACKGROUND: In 2005, 40% of motor-vehicle occupant deaths in the group aged 16-19 years involved passengers. Although seatbelts can reduce crash mortality by 50% or more, little is known about the differences in driver-versus-passenger seatbelt use among teens. METHODS: In 2007, data from the 2001 and 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Surveys were analyzed for 12,731 black, white, and Hispanic high school students aged >/=16 years reporting seatbelt use as both drivers and passengers. Seatbelt use was compared for driver- and passenger-seat positions, and stratified by age, gender, race/ethnicity, school grades, and histories of either drinking and driving or riding with a drinking driver. RESULTS: Overall, 59% of students always used seatbelts when driving, but only 42% always buckled up as passengers. Across all covariate strata, passenger seatbelt use was significantly less prevalent than driver seatbelt use (p<0.001). A concordance analysis showed that only 38% of students always wore seatbelts both when driving and while riding as a passenger. Multivariate analyses indicated that, regardless of seat position, seatbelt use was lower for young men, blacks, students with poor grades, and students who reported either drinking and driving or riding with a drinking driver. CONCLUSIONS: U.S. high school students aged >/=16 years are significantly less likely to wear seatbelts as passengers than as drivers. Interventions designed to promote seatbelt use among teens need to address this disparity.     

Ingestion of tyrosine: effects on endurance, muscle strength, and anaerobic performance

Acute tyrosine ingestion is thought to improve aerobic endurance, muscle strength and endurance, and anaerobic power of men undergoing severe physiologic stress. In a double-blind, crossover study, 20 men (32 +/- 1 y old) underwent 2 loadcarriage treadmill sessions, 1 after taking tyrosine (150 mg/ kg L-crystalline tyrosine) and 1 after taking placebo. Tyrosine dosage was based on subject weight and ingested 30 min before load carriage. A physical performance battery was administered after the load carriage: maximal and submaximal handgrip, pull-ups, and stair stepping with weight. Total time on treadmill was not significantly lengthened with ingestion of tyrosine (118.9 +/- 1.4 min) as compared with placebo (119.2 +/- 1.2 min). Total power for stair stepping (tyrosine 223 +/- 8 watts, placebo 216 +/- 9 watts) and muscle strength and endurance (handgrip) was not significantly improved by tyrosine ingestion. The results indicate that acute ingestion of tyrosine by healthy men has no measurable effect on endurance, muscle strength, or anaerobic power.     

Plasma ferritin concentration and physical work capacity in athletes.

This investigation aimed to determine whether the physical work capacity of nonanemic athletes could be improved when plasma ferritin concentrations of below 30 ng/ml were raised at least 15 ng/ml. The experimental group consisted of 15 training athletes, each of whose plasma ferritin concentration was less than 30 ng/ml (mean and SD of 19.8 +/- 8.4 ng/ml). In a control group of 16, each was measured with a plasma ferritin concentration of more than 40 ng/ml (mean and SD of 83.3 +/- 37.6 ng/ml). All participated in submaximal and maximal tests for aerobic and anaerobic power. Following iron supplementation, plasma ferritin concentration in each experimental subject increased by at least 15 ng/ml to more than 30 ng/ml, to a new mean of 46.3 +/- 15.5 ng/ml. The performance measures were also repeated, but no significant overall effects were associated with the increased plasma ferritin concentrations. These data provide no sound evidence that physical work capacity of athletes is enhanced when plasma ferritin concentrations of around 20 ng/ml are increased by at least 15 ng/ml.     

黑龙江省汉族学生近视状况调查分析

目的了解黑龙江省汉族学生视力现状及近5年变化情况。方法采用实验法对黑龙江省汉族学生进行视力检查,统计不同年龄组城乡学生近视发病率及视力水平,并将监测结果与2005年测试数据进行比较分析。结果 2010年男生近视患病率为47.9%;女生为55.9%;城市男生为56.2%,乡村男生为39.6%;城市女生为64.2%,乡村女生47.9%;男女生及城市与乡村近视患病率经χ2检验差异均具有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。2010年男女生总体视力均处于中等近视水平,男生好于女生,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。16～18岁城市男生及城乡女生、13～15岁乡村男生近视率高于其他年龄组,差异有统计学意义(均P<0.05),其中16～18岁男女生视力水平最低。2005年男生近视患病率为40.7%,女生为49.6%;2010年男生为47.9%,女生为55.9%;男女生近视比例均有所增加,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 2010年黑龙江省学生总体视力高于全国水平,男生视力好于女生,乡村学生好于城市学生,小学生、大学生好于初高中生。2010年学生近视率较2005年明显增加,且男生近视率增加较女生明显,城市较乡村明显,初高中生增加较小学生明显,大学生则有所下降。     

Effect of smoking on weight and cardiopulmonary capacities in young athletes

The aim of the study was to determine wether smokers practising sports have reduced weight, if recuperation time after moderate exercise and maximal aerobic power were lowered. Thousand young soldiers [50 smokers (S), 50 no smokers (NS)] averaging 24 years in age were studied. The subjects performed to exhaustion on Ruffier test, then a maximal exercise with Cooper test. Several biometrical and physiological parameters were evaluated: weight (W), percent of body fat (PBF), body mass index (BMI), maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) and recuperation index (RI). Kinetics of heart rate (HR) were studied for 7 min considering time constant (1 min) and delay for recovery. The smokers showed significant differences for W (p < 0.001), PBF (p < 0.05), VO2 max (p < 0.01) and recuperation index (p < 0.001). Maximal aerobic power were 45.8 +/- 2.7 and 50.3 +/- 3.2 ml/kg/min for S and NS, and RI were 7.5 +/- 0.9 (S) and 5.0 +/- 1 (NS). figure 1 shows that HR recovery of S has generally two components: the first was fast, the second was a slone none. The smokers who presented a great dependence to tobacco smoking had a significant lower RI (p < 0.001) as those subjects with little tobacco dependence (Table 5). The smokers had lower values of VO2 max, and there exists a tobacco dependence difference. Recuperation time for the aerobically well trained S subjects was more rapid during the lactic phase. Note that correlations obtained between the VO2 max and RI were significant (r = - 0.788; p < 0.05). The smokers and no smokers differences are discussed with reference to nicotinemia effects and the sympathetic-parasympathetic unbatance of influences. The comparison of smokers groups concerning cardiovascular data led to suppose that there exists a tobacco dependence difference in regards of the catecholaminergic sensitivity. In conclusion, this study showed that smoker practising a physical activity have a reduced weight, a higher recuperation time and an anaerobic limitation influenced by the state of tobacco dependence.     

Health rights in secondary schools: student and staff perspectives

This paper examines the perspectives of secondary school students and staff about the extent to which young people's health rights are catered for at school. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the concept of Health-Promoting Schools encourage the provision of healthy school environments. A postal survey of secondary schools in New Zealand elicited responses from 821 Year 11 (15-16 year olds) students and 438 staff in 107 schools. Most students and staff reported that sources of health advice were available at their schools, but only a minority of students saw these sources as accessible or trustworthy. In every area of health promotion, students saw information and advice as less accessible than staff did. Most staff and students identified mental health problems such as depression as a source of concern in schools, but only a quarter of students (compared to half of staff) thought that this topic was covered during classtime. Students in lower-income schools reported the school environment as slightly less healthy than did students in high-income schools. The paper concludes that schools and policy makers should seek the voices and opinions of young people in order to improve effectiveness in catering for health rights.     

玉林师范学院19～22岁汉族学生体质变化情况调查

目的调查玉林师范学院19—22岁汉族学生的体质变化情况，以进一步改善学校体育卫生工作。方法利用2000和2005年全国学生体质与健康调研的结果，对玉林师范学院19～22岁汉族学生体质的有关数据进行统计检验、比较和分析。结果该学院汉族学生身高有不同程度的提高；乡村学生的胸围出现负增长趋势；心肺功能下降差异具有统计学意义；下肢爆发力明显下降。结论该学院大学生身体素质整体上出现滑坡现象，应对学生加强教育，培养学生终身体育锻炼的意识，并增加有氧运动。     

Revisiting a pilot survey involving contraception and teenage pregnancy in Ayrshire and Arran

CONTEXT: How to respond to the challenge of reducing unplanned pregnancy rates in Ayrshire and Arran. OBJECTIVES: (1) To improve understanding of the educational needs of 11-15-year-olds regarding contraception which could be used to inform planning of future sex education in schools in Ayrshire and Arran. (2) To put this in context by reviewing contraceptive usage amongst 14-16-year-old pregnant teenagers. DESIGN: (1) A questionnaire given to 11-15-year-olds during a sex education class. (2) A retrospective study of pregnant 14-16-year-olds. PARTICIPANTS: (1) School pupils aged 11-15 from an area of mixed social background (n = 80). (2) Pregnant 14-16-year-olds presenting at Ayrshire Central Maternity Hospital between September 1997 and March 1998 (n = 74). RESULTS: (1) Ninety-nine percent of the teenagers said they would use contraception. Seventy-three percent of girls, but only 52% of boys, were aware of the services available. Ninety percent of girls knew about emergency contraception, but only 59% of boys. Thirty-three percent thought they received too little sex education at school. Thirty-two percent received no sex education from home, and 10% 'too little'. More information about sexually-related diseases, safe sex and having a baby was requested. (2) The study of pregnant teenagers showed that 69% went ahead with their pregnancies, that 71% were not habitually using contraception and only 4% were using contraception at the time of conception. DISCUSSION: Teenagers said they would use contraception. However, boys were not aware of local services giving advice and help to young people, nor about emergency contraception. Teenagers felt they had no or 'too little' sex education at home. They felt too young to become a parent and be 'tied down'. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Teenagers at school want information about a wider range of sexual issues. (2) There is a gap between learning about contraception and its practical use, including emergency contraception. (3) Discussion and reinforcement of sex education at home may not exist for many teenagers. (4) Teenagers at school felt that they were not ready to be parents as this would restrict their social lives and disrupt their education. (5) It is recognised that young men are less well-informed than young women are, and this could impact on safe sex.