thankyou soooooo much this helps ALOT!
Hi!
Good luck on your thesis! I can only address the past 20 years, since I am only 40 years old, but here goes:
1. Yes, I think attitudes are more relaxed primarily because people are constantly exposed to sex and sexuality on TV, internet, billboards, magazines, etc.
2. I'm not sure, but I don't think that there were advertisements for contraception 40 years ago! If so it might have been a small black and white about condoms on the last page. Now it is common to see a full page color ad for birth control.
3.My patients have definitely noticed the ads for OrthoTricyclen with the acne indication, for Yaz with the PMS indication and for Mirena.
4.I think the advertising campaigns are fairly accurate. I don't have any big issues with them--that is for prescription products (eg. those that are regulated by the FDA)
5.I think it is a positive way of educating teenagers. They are more likely to read and believe something in an ad in Teen Magazine than something they hear in a health education lecture at school. Anything that encourages them to protect themselves against unwanted pregnancy and STDs is beneficial.
6.I personally see about the same number of teen pregnancies, I think that nationwide there has been an increase. It is definitely more accepted these days if not more acceptable.
7.I think that the human body is biologically programmed to begin reproduction at about 17-18 years of age. I think that teenagers act on impulse, and that they don't forsee that there will be consequences.
8.I think that teenagers are far too sophisticated sexually these days in some ways, but they are still children in many other ways. I don't think they understand what kind of a Pandora's box they are opening.
9.Yes. Corporations are trying to sell their products. Government is limited by a wide variety of special interest groups.
10.I would personally like to see contraception more accessible. I would like to see ads with teen parents speaking about their experiences and giving accurate information on how to access birth control as well as accurate information on risks benefits and side effects. Throw in some tips about STDs as well!
Hope this is useful!
Dr B