Around two-thirds of Bristol parents believe their teenagers have no desire to discuss sex, a survey has revealed.
The Bristol Teenage Pregnancy Partnership (BTTP) says their research reveals a huge gap between the amount of information adolescents want about sex and the amount they actually receive, with teenagers increasingly turning to the internet, friends and the media instead of talking to family members.
The poll also shows that, despite parental ignorance, families believe they should be the main source of information for sex education, with 93% of those polled saying they wanted more support in teaching their children about reproductive health.
Armed with this knowledge, the BTTP has launched a campaign to get parents talking about the potentially awkward subject by producing leaflets, setting-up a website and pledging to establish parenting support groups by 2010.
Anne Colquhoun, teenage pregnancy strategy coordinator, said: "We know that about 1 in 20 girls under 18 get pregnant each year in Bristol and this campaign is a crucial part of our strategy to reduce these rates.
"The role parents play is incredibly important and we hope that the resources that are now available will support parents to start and continue conversations with their children."
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