Updated: 62% of Maltese do not use contraception, survey shows

Joss Galea

Jun 5th 2009, 12:01

@Joe Fenech.
Why don't you leave the island for a week and go and see what a third world country looks like?!!!!!!!

carmel pule

Jun 5th 2009, 10:21

My exclamation marks.
Once at University I was lectured on information theory by a renouned American professor who had a sense of humour as Mark Twain.
He said that one may attract attention and exclain in a higher attraction form any point of interest.
He also said that when I was lost for words, then I could invent some! In fact I did, as during my research,I needed to describe special shapes and I named them EXPONENTIODS to which my professor congratulated me as it fitted so perfectly.
I also suggested CARAFFA to Professor Aquilina to be used as an equvalent to BOAT as we have no word for boat in maltese. I am still looking for a better word as equivalent to BOAT
Forms of exclamations are often used in advertising using colours, shapes and various rate of changes. In fact it is when one introduces a different rate of change that one attracts attention hence the flashing light on aircraft and the turning light in cars.
Any way in this article listed here I believe that condoms, sex and other expressions attracted interest more than a few exclamation marks!! Thats what publicity is all about, ATTRACTING ATTENTION Itworks!

Joe Fenech

Jun 5th 2009, 01:53

"62 percent of the Maltese do not use contraception."

NO ONE WOULD BELIEVE THAT MALTA THINKS IT'S A CIVILISED COUNTRY! Malta is a THIRD WORLD country!

T Vella

Jun 4th 2009, 22:02

Mr Carmel Pule, please! How did you conclude that 62% of the Maltese want children? No they don't. Some people do not use contraception because they are not comfortable using them, others perhaps because they are careless. The report does not say what age bracket the respondents come from - this would have helped observers to understand people's behaviour and choices.

As for the fruit being eaten twice a day, it is in the context of healthy eating (as part of the interview on healthy practices) or didn't you notice? Also please stop using so many exclamation marks - it's annoying and shows you don't know what they are for.

carmel pule

Jun 4th 2009, 17:59

Am I too naive in concluding that if 62% of Maltese people want children then it is expected for them not to use any form of contraception ? !!!!!!!!!

Also considering that normally people have sex in pairs, then amongst one pair of sex activists, only one individual needs to use some sort of barrier fortification against the enemy, which would affect the meaning and the mathematical encoding of 62% of Maltese do not use contraception !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also I am a little worried about the statement, " nearly three quarters of interviewees ate fruit once or twice a day". If that is the fruit of love they mean within the contest of this article then, Well at my age I find that rather extravagant but I guess it is in order to congratulate those who eat such fruit twice a day.

C. Scholz

Jun 4th 2009, 11:02

I think abstinence can't be the answer to the problem of STV and teenage pregancies. I don't believe that a 16 year old girl or boy for that matter decide to become parents or are just plain promiscuous. So there must be a lack of information on sex in general and prevention in particular out there. I believe that of course family should be at the heart of informing their children about these issues, but numbers seem to suggest that this information is insufficient. So honestly sex education in schools should be given serious consideration and may cover all aspects of sex - choosing to wait and using contraception.

A. Farrugia

Jun 4th 2009, 10:53

@Paul Barrett

I don't think your arguments are solid enough. The demand for cigarettes is mostly inelastic, meaning taxation can be increased to make up for the decreasing demand, and total revenues will INCREASE. This is particularly due to the fact that cigarette demand is a result of habits.

Perhaps you should look up statistics in terms of related health expenditure & sick leave costs (in terms of man hours especially). I for one had to take around 12 - 18 days of sick leave last year due to second-hand smoking, as I suffer from an allergy to cigarette smoke (amongst other things).

Moreover, I am of the belief that HEALTH should come before WEALTH, and even IF total revenues from this source goes down and this is not offset by a reduction in health expenditure, I would still advocate in favour of less and less smoking. The money argument is baseless in my opinion, as it can never justify the utter waste of life and productivity that cigarettes lead to through cancers, lung diseases and so on.

I would rather pay a higher tax and see that money well spent than wasted to cure avoidable smoking illnesses, including mine.

C.Caruana (323)

Jun 4th 2009, 08:06

Abstinence is the best approach!!

Mark Saliba

Jun 4th 2009, 01:31

In these times the proper and responsible use of contraceptives and condoms should be a must and it should be taught to all children of both genders once they reach teenage years. Abstinance is near impossible in this day and age, rather than clinging to old ideoligies we should try to move with the times and be responsible by teaching our children about the perils of unprotected sex. Not only could it lead to life-threatening STDs but also to unwanted children and minors becoming mothers.

Ignoring the monetary benefits from the state for a minute, think of the detriment to the well-being of a young single mother and her child. Any chance of a bright future, education and career, and a happy home with a family can very easily be dashed by one's irresponsibility of not using contraceptives.

Emmanuel Ebejer

Jun 3rd 2009, 23:19

I've never used a condom...not even in my teens. What's all the fuss about. I'm married , my wife and I are 48. So far we are healthy, thank God. We have a beautiful, healthy 17 year-old daugfhter. Aids, church, hiv and so forth;...THE key words are RESPECT and HONOUR.

Ernest Vella

Jun 3rd 2009, 22:32

Don't want to be infected...follow the Christian method....one partner...know the partner...if its compatable to you marry him...and than make lots of children for you trust your partner. Condoms and contraceptions for sure are not the solution, but just a way to hide the problem of responsability.

I cannot understand in blaming the church...these are her rules...if you don't believe in the church authority, no one is telling you to obey her rules....Condoms mean lack of trust in your partner....therefore you are not respecting the other side...you are just using him/her....sex must be done because there is love and not just to have fun...sex is responsabilty and not somewhere where "int tista tizzvoga s-sensi tieghek"

I believe in the true love...I repeat contraceptions and condoms are not the solution...God gave you the body to glorify him and not to gratify yourself...thanks for your comments...lol

Gerry Cowie

Jun 3rd 2009, 19:33

I am curious about the agenda some have behind their comments on this blog.
Why is the Church to blame for those who have unprotected sex, particularly where those people are already having sexual intercourse in contravention with the rules laid down by the Church? I am not judging here, and simply wish to know what people mean by their comments. I refer in particular to the young in general here. Are people saying that these young people are not using contraception because of the Church's teachings? So the fact that they are having sexual intercourse outside of the Church's teachings AND not using contraception is down to the Church?
Church or no church, I doubt that people do not use thier own heads on this issue.
Despite the complexities of sexual attraction, what a pity that good old-fashioned self control is neither encouraged nor practised.
Without self control there would be more murder, rape, theft etc than already happens.
One should always be wary of surveys, of course, since one does not always know the basis on which they are carried out. Also they are open to being taken out of context in order to suit one's own spin!

Claudine Cassar

Jun 3rd 2009, 18:16

@Edwin Formosa
More quotes from your expert:
"people seldom use condoms in steady relationships because doing so would imply a lack of trust. (And if condom use rates go up, it's possible we are seeing an increase of casual or commercial sex.) However, it's those ongoing relationships that drive Africa's worst epidemics. In these, most HIV infections are found in general populations, not in high-risk groups such as sex workers, gay men or persons who inject drugs. And in significant proportions of African populations, people have two or more regular sex partners who overlap in time. In Botswana, which has one of the world's highest HIV rates, 43 percent of men and 17 percent of women surveyed had two or more regular sex partners in the previous year. "
In other words, if they used a condom they would not get infected. However they opt not to use one in order not to offend their partner......

Claudine Cassar

Jun 3rd 2009, 18:13

@Edwin Formosa
With all due respect, you are quoting Edward C. Green extremely selectively in order to give a warped view of what he said.
"consistent condom use has not reached a sufficiently high level, even after many years of widespread and often aggressive promotion, to produce a measurable slowing of new infections in the generalized epidemics of Sub-Saharan Africa."
in other words, condom-use has not slowed down HIV infections in Africe, because NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE ARE USING CONDOMS!

In other countries like Thailand and Cambodia, he adds, condom promotion was much more effective!

edwin formosa

Jun 3rd 2009, 17:45

Harvard AIDS Expert Edward C. Green, director of the AIDS Prevention Research Project at the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, said that research into the spread of AIDS actually supports the position of the Catholic Church and the pope.
"The Pope is correct … the best evidence we have supports the Pope's comments," Green said, according to National Review Online.
"There is a consistent association shown by our best studies, including the US-funded 'Demographic HealthSurveys,' between greater availability and use of condoms and higher (not lower) HIV-infection rates," he explained. "This may be due in part to a phenomenon known as risk compensation, meaning that when one uses a risk-reduction 'technology' such as condoms, one often loses the benefit (reduction in risk) by 'compensating' or taking greater chances than one would take without the risk-reduction technology."

N.Grima

Jun 3rd 2009, 17:42

Continuing on what A.Fench pointed out... "Nearly 74 percent of those who reported being sexually active had only one sexual partner in the previous year while 22 percent reported having no partners in the previous year." That means that from those having a sexual partner over the last year, 95% had only one. No wonder there's such a low incidence of contraception! An important statistic the survey omitted is "how many sexually active had an STI test". Anyway, what's with all the worrying? It's good news! No STDs spreading around (Department of Health happy), not too much pregnancy contraception in use (Church happy), and well... if they're keeping the partner AND having sex, they must at least be a little happy... ;) Stop frowning and smile for once dear dear...

Graham Crocker

Jun 3rd 2009, 17:34

G. Fenech, sexual education doesn't work. Its only function is so children speak up if a pedo is around.

Also I know this is a bit, fascistic, but people with HIV/aids should have some tattoo or something (hidden under clothes obviously). Its not fair that somebodies life gets ruined because of selfishness.

J Farrugia

Jun 3rd 2009, 17:30

Those who play with fire will be burnt. and I dont pity such irresponsible people.

Patrick Attard

Jun 3rd 2009, 17:27

Well if even the Pope says that condoms make the problem worse, it's not surprising..

Condoms cannot be compared to seatbelts because of the multiplier effect.
see info here:
http://patrickattard.blogspot.com/2009/05/reason-why-pope-is-wrong-on-condoms.html

adrian aquilina

Jun 3rd 2009, 16:51

the amount of people who dont use contraception is shocking..its no wonder malta is so high up on the list of people with sexual deseases..the government should educate and promote condoms more..a country with no abortion and little safe sex education is asking for trouble.the least sexual deseases per person in the e.u. is holland..holland has continued to show that a more liberal and open society works when a conservative,religious society never has.the more safe sex is promoted and used the less unwanted deseases and pregnancies.its obvious

P_ Attard

Jun 3rd 2009, 16:36

@K Galea

HIV is not a crime but it's a killer and requires a lot of continuous treatment which again is a burden on society

J Farrugia

Jun 3rd 2009, 16:28

Why all this hullabaloo about this 62%?? Why do you hate these people who do not use the thing, when they might be going steady? Why is it that these who are criticising this high percentage figure are all fumed up. I think first of all that this survey is just another scam. I don't trust surveys. But if it really this situation than Thank heavens that these youngsters are following their parents' teachings and not the liberal curma. And for that only I thank my lucky stars. Even though I'm a bit sceptic about all this when I see so many unmarried on social services for their partners' and also their irresponsibility.

P_ Attard

Jun 3rd 2009, 16:22

32% of women have had mammograms. this is also very alarming. breast cancers is one of the "easiest" cancers to cure but it has to be dedected at an early stage. home breast examination is not enough as sometimes one doesnt feel a lump at all.

and about the 62% who don't use contraceptives...no wonder we have soo many single mothers who are a burden to our society as we have to help them through our taxes for a mistake THEY did and a mistake they had absolute control over.

on a positive note it is good to hear that the amount of smokers has gone down

r ferriggi

Jun 3rd 2009, 16:05

i think that this news about (lack of) condom usage is to say the least,,,, alarming.

i believe it is mainly the result of the taboo by church against sex. which leads to lack of sexual education and therefore prevention, effects etc.

youngsters go from ZERO knowledge to obvious discovery of sex and skip the education part including prevention etc etc.

Kenneth Galea

Jun 3rd 2009, 16:05

Practising safe sex is easier said than done. Sexual intimacy is a very complex issue and as long as the individual knows what he/she is doing then so be it. I don't think the safe sex message is getting through anymore, statistics speak for themselves. Therefore the funds should be channelled towards the sexual health clinics and treat people in a reasonable time.Our sexual health clinics should be open for longer hours and the service in general should improve. OH and HIV is nothing to be ashamed of, HIV is NOT a crime!

c.camilleri

Jun 3rd 2009, 15:59

So long as the service remains free the waiting list in Public hospitals will never be eliminated in spite of the efforts of whoever is in Govt. This applies to all countries who offers free health service.

Kenneth Grima

Jun 3rd 2009, 15:58

Another alarming issue is that most people use contraception only as a prevention against pregnancies not against STD'S, when the health issue should be of top priority, Education Education Education that is what Maltese people needs. Trusting is good but when one lives surounded with life treathening diseases such as AIDS NOT TRUSTING IS BETTER.

Joe Vella

Jun 3rd 2009, 15:47

Ask Dolores Cristina about condoms. Her ministry purposely(?) did not mention contraception in a report on national heatlh.

Secondly, how come a condom machine at university was met with great hullabaloo? (Still not installed)

Thirdly, what is the Church's stance on the issue? Condoms-no way?

Kenneth Grima

Jun 3rd 2009, 15:42

What i found alarming in this news is that many blood donors are part of that 62% so imagine the situation at the blood bank. Let me remind you all that the ideal reseve is that of three days but sometimes the blood bank has hardly a 24 hour one. So imagine how safe it is? THAN THEY SAY HOMOSEXUALS ARE A RISK !!! How could one trust a heterosexual donor with an alarming 62% not using contraception.

A.Fenech

Jun 3rd 2009, 15:33

@ Edward Caruana Galizia

"62% of the maltese population is at risk of getting AIDS/HIV along with other STDs">

I beg to differ. I'm sure that the vast majority of these 62% pratice sex with just their partner and are therefore not risking HIV/AIDS. Then if one can't trust his/her partner, that's another problem.

Franco Farrugia

Jun 3rd 2009, 15:26

It would have been most enlightening to ask what education bracket those who do not use contraception, belong to. I don't think it's a question of the Church or other taboos. For instance, various sections of the population still go to Church on Sundays and regularly without caring one iota about what the Church says about racism. I rather think it is a question of breeding, education and what mentality one has.

Paul Barrett

Jun 3rd 2009, 15:05

@ A. Farrugia

Good intentions can have a bad outcome for the non-smoker. Currently the foolish smokers are contributing an enormous amount of money to the Government (not the manufacturer) for their habit. As more people stop smoking the less income the Government has and it therefore will have to raise tax to make up for it, a tax which the non-smoker is spared from paying at the moment.

Additionally, "smokers die earlier" or so goes the slogan. This means that by stopping smoking, people will live longer and therefore need more pension money - less to go around to those that have not been addicted.

G. Fenech

Jun 3rd 2009, 14:56

62% of Maltese could be spreading STD's without having any clue. Sexual education needs to start being taught in schools. Condom machines should not be frowned on as if they were the devil's box of sweets.

This is a serious issue that really needs to be addressed. Politicians take the usual easy route out by just shrugging it off. If nothing is done about this, we will soon see some scary STD numbers climbing in Malta.

Lets put religion aside for a second, and think about actually keeping our children / young adults alive & healthy.

Previous attempts of getting schools to have condom machines were met with such stubborn and ridiculous arguments about how our catholic country should not encourage children to use condoms and/or have sex.

Kids have sex, now if you prefer to deny this fact, and then simply pray so that your kid's aids will magically go away, then do so. I know i want my kid to have a condom in his pocket, the same way i want him to wear a life jacket when he gets on a boat.

Edward Caruana Galizia

Jun 3rd 2009, 14:53

62% of the maltese population is at risk of getting AIDS/HIV along with other STDs. Not something we should be too proud of.

André Xuereb

Jun 3rd 2009, 14:43

Of course most Maltese people do not use contraception, what with the church opposing any teaching to do with contraception in our schools and sex education still a taboo area in our country. Pathetic.

A. Farrugia

Jun 3rd 2009, 14:29

Good to see the smoking incidence go down.. the closer to zero it gets, the happier I'll be for those who kick the habit. I just can't stand the fumes, especially in public places (despite our laws).

Nothing beats cigs when it comes to the list of activities that simply burn people's money away, (and their lives along with it in this case).

Kick the habit. Do yourself, and your neighbours, a favour! :)