Sekondi, July 11, GNA - Mr Benjamin Whyte, Western Regional Programme Officer of the National Population Council has decried the attitude of some adolescents who prefer pornography to educational and recreational information on the Internet.

He stressed that even though there were several websites, which were rewarding and full of educational, recreational and with internal appeal, others were full of damaging and demoralising scene and ideas. Mr Whyte said this on Friday with an interview of the GNA to coincide with the World Population Day, which is celebrated July 11, every year.

This year's celebration is under the theme: "Adolescent Reproductive Health."

"Adolescents who constitute the hope of the nation should strive to acquire the requisite skills to enable them to develop their potentials and assume leadership positions," he added.

Mr Whyte expressed regret that many female adolescent were either abused or raped and as a result had their reproductive organs damaged. He said children born through rape were usually underweight and died early due to malnutrition and improper care.

He stressed that many adolescents who were raped usually lived with shame, fear, public ridicule and pressure from their parents while others refuse to attain antenatal clinics and thereby increased the maternal mortality rate.

Mr Whyte cautioned that frequent change of sexual partners exposed adolescents to sexually transmitted diseases including the HIV/AIDS virus and urged them not to allow men to ruin their future through early sex.

In a related development, Mr Emmanuel P. Assan, Western Regional Co-ordinator of the National Youth Council, appealed to adolescents to abstain from early sex and accept HIV/AIDS messages and campaigns as true.

He said the frequent change of sexual partners coupled with the improper use of needles, blades and tattoos could further expose them to the diseases.