Rural attitudes to sex 'lagging behind'

The Crisis Pregnancy Agency says attitudes to sex in rural areas are still lagging behind those in towns and cities.

The agency says a study it commissioned has found that women in rural areas are just as sexually active as their urban counterparts, but tend to keep more private about their sex lives for fear of being judged.

The study also found that rural women often feel more pressure to become sexually active and are often reluctant to use contraception due to embarrassment about buying condoms or seeking the morning-after pill.

In one incident referred to in the research, a young woman went to her GP seeking the morning-after pill, but instead he offered to say prayers for her.

The Crisis Pregnancy Agency says the findings highlight the need for improved sex education that matches the needs and issues facing modern adolescents.