Supporting the Needs of Young People in Turkey

What's the situation?

Forty-seven per cent of Turkey's population of 72.8 million is under 24 years old.

However, there is only limited national data on young people's problems, health, attitudes and behavior. Most surveys show that the level of young people's knowledge in sexual and

reproductive health is not good. Young people in Turkey have only limited access to reproductive health information and services and they lack knowledge about sexually transmitted infections other than HIV/AIDS .

In Turkey, although health education does take place in the current primary and high school curricula, pupils' understanding of reproductive and sexual health issues is inadequate. Most of these courses do not focus directly on changing attitudes and behaviors. In addition, since the teachers who are required to teach these classes may themselves not have up-to-date information, they may end up providing only superficial information.

Research shows that young people in Turkey mostly get information about sexual and reproductive health from their friends, magazines and newspapers. These put young people at a greater risk in terms of sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS and unwanted pregnancies.

University students are covered by a free health care system, offered mainly in medico-social centers at each university. However, reproductive health counseling and services are not provided in these centers. Since university students already are, or soon will be sexually active, it is expected that integrating the provision of RH services into these existing services will have a positive impact on their sexual health and behavior.

Although Turkish law guarantees formal equality between men and women , there is still a gap between the law and behavior in daily life.

Involving Turkey's young male population in reproductive health issues remains a challenge as does changing attitudes amongst young people of both sexes about violence against women . Surveys have revealed that 63 per cent of young women aged 15-19 believe wife beating is justified in some cases. This indicates a need for training and better awareness of the rights and responsibilities for both sexes.

There is now a key opportunity for Turkey to invest in its young people. Current population dynamics in Turkey indicate that the country will, in the near future, have its largest population of young people. UNFPA recognizes that investment now, in young people's health and education, will bring valuable yet cost-effective social and private returns.