CAIRO - A study, conducted by the Ministry of Family and Population on the conditions of teenagers of both genders in Upper Egyptian governorates, especially Assiut, 380km south of Cairo, has produced significant findings. The study has revealed the low rate of teenagers, who are using the Internet at an average of 10 per cent, while the remaining 90 per cent have no idea about the Internet. However, the highest rate of using the Internet was recorded at Mero village in Assiut Governorate. The study has shown that between 16 to 20 per cent of young people have used the Internet in Mero village, while the lowest rate of using the Internet was Abutige village, in Assiut Governorate, at an average of four per cent. Otherwise, the study has disclosed fewer female users of the Internet compared with male. Accordingly, the study mentioned that 16 per cent of males have used the Internet compared to only six per cent of females. Additionally, there are health and social problems with young people in Upper Egyptian governorates suffering from conditions, such as anaemia, and general weakness. Girls in Upper Egypt suffer from problems related to lack of education and available job opportunities, in addition to parents not looking after their own affairs. Upper Egyptian girls have pointed out that there is a shortage of girls' schools, especially at the secondary educational level in their villages, as well as no appropriate places available to improve their skills or offer training. The girls are also complained of parents' ignorance of their daughters' opinions related to the issue of their marriage, thus the girl's father decides who his daughter will marry and when. Regarding how the teenagers, especially girls, spend their time; the study states that youth spend about 22 hours weekly at work, school or university, while they spend about 26 hours engaged in personal activities, such as reading , watching TV, listening to radio stations or jogging. Young men in the study say that they enjoy better conditions than girls do, attributing that to their greater freedom. They also noted that they spend a large part of their time at coffee shops with their friends and also in cultivating their lands, whereas girls spend their time in helping their mothers in housework and looking after children. Regarding information resources, the study pointed out that young people prefer to get their information concerning health issues from their relatives. However, one third of teenagers mentioned that their school tutors are the main sources of their information. About 22 per cent of youth noted that they prefer television as a source of accurate information. According to the study that was published in el-Messa newspaper, about half of the teenagers, who were involved in the study, preferred to get their information on personal topics through their relatives, then television at an average of 24 per cent, while the rate slightly decreased, concerning newspapers, magazines and the Internet as a source to information to of 20 per cent. Concerning youth viewpoints about the marriage of children, the study revealed that they have relatives who are getting married while aged less than 18 years old. This rate has reached 48 per cent in Mero village, Assiut.
