Lack of
School based sexuality-education in conservative
societies is a public health
problem? Such is the topic of an exchange on LINKEDIN between experts of the GLOBAL
PUBLIC HEALTH NETWORK. The
opinions of these
experts encouraged school
based sexuality education in conservative societies.
Let us
speak about arguments of some
and other :
Ruth-Isibor,, Environmental
and Public Health Specialist ,Royaume-Uni
“Sexual
education in schools is regarded as an effective way to increase young people’s
understanding of Sexually Transmitted Infections(STIs) including HIV infection,
abortion, and infertility; and to overcome sexual herassment . As a range of
research evidence have indicated that school-based sex education has the
potential to prevent unwanted pregnancy and to promote positive sexual health
at the individual, family and community or health system level.
However, in conservative societies, sexual education is not considered a health priority, and reviews have shown that this has resulted in poor sexual behaviours and outcomes in these societies. As Sexual and reproductive illhealth has now become one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality among young people in these locations. Young people in these regions are as a result, now at high risk of STIs and coerced sexual abuse/rape. Also, despite young people making up a large proportion of these populations, there is very little known about their sexual health, knowledge and experience. As most of the conservative populations have odd views about sexual education.
Consequently, it is these effects of the lack of sexual education in these societies that have now lead to a range of growing public health problems. As due to lack of sexual education, young populations in these societies have now been made vulnerable to negative sexualhealth outcomes."
However, in conservative societies, sexual education is not considered a health priority, and reviews have shown that this has resulted in poor sexual behaviours and outcomes in these societies. As Sexual and reproductive illhealth has now become one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality among young people in these locations. Young people in these regions are as a result, now at high risk of STIs and coerced sexual abuse/rape. Also, despite young people making up a large proportion of these populations, there is very little known about their sexual health, knowledge and experience. As most of the conservative populations have odd views about sexual education.
Consequently, it is these effects of the lack of sexual education in these societies that have now lead to a range of growing public health problems. As due to lack of sexual education, young populations in these societies have now been made vulnerable to negative sexualhealth outcomes."
Filbert Ajax
Idha, Health Coordinator at Fields of Life Uganda, Ouganda
“ With sexuality education, there seems to be lots of resistance upstream
as well as downstream! In my context, the adolescent health profile is so bad,
with rising teenage pregnancy, high HIV prevalence among adolescents and the
momentum of non-communicable diseases is picking up alarmingly with incresing
number of tobbacco smokers among the adolescents, low physical activity levels.
Truth be told, a cmprehensive adolescent health is needed, beyond the
HIV-Abstinence stage 'we' created. If there is real chance for improved health
indicators in the future for us in the developing countries, adolescent health
and sexuality education can not be ignored; it holds the potential for health
gains interms of the prevention options it gives but also the early intervention
option. I have had chance to work on many school settings but i can tell
you....a lot more needs to be done!”
Nomakula
Shweni, Quality Assurer - Metropolitan Health Risk Management, Région de
Johannesburg,Afrique du Sud
“Sexuality Education is generally a challenge for adults because they were
never informed themselves about sex and what they currently know is from
experience,from peers and from information gained whislt at college or
university.The strategy then should be parent- based sexuality education so as
to enlighten parents on how to impart this knowledge at home.In South Africa
there is a subject called Life Orientation which commences from Gr 3 and our
children get to be exposed then about their bodies and as they progress they
learn a bit abut sexuality.If teachers are themselves uncomfortable about
sexuality issues it poses a challenge to our kids as well.I personally think
sexuality education should be tackled at all angles.Sexuality is not only about
sex,it is about gender aspects,sexual orientation and every issue connected to
sexual development which can be dealt with in phases as the child is
growing.Governments should consider getting experts in those areas to draw the
correct policies on sexuality education for our schools.
With the advent of HIV all of us need to be up in arms in ensuring that children are empowered in all fronts so to keep negative children negative and maintain those positive at lower levels of the virus of which sexuality education forms part of that campaign “
With the advent of HIV all of us need to be up in arms in ensuring that children are empowered in all fronts so to keep negative children negative and maintain those positive at lower levels of the virus of which sexuality education forms part of that campaign “
Aaron Ndaa, Public Health
Coordinator at Oxfam Great Britain , Zimbabwe
“Short
analysis of the contributions above strongly agree there is need for
multisectoral approach to tackling sexuality issues. The family, according to
most members' views, becomes the first prot of call to ensure every member of
the family has understanding of SE, second institutions such as schools, need
to be adequately resources (human, material, financial etc), to ensure SE is
trongly embedded into the curricula, third, there needs to be pro-SE policies
and I think legislation that protect those at risk and perhaps the fourth
aspect looks at cross-cultural issues that may convey negative and positive at
the deriment of the 'invaded' culture. There are cultural practices that need
to be addressed as they constitute part of the major problems youths
(adolescents) encounter. There being no rocket science to issues about
sexuality, more research is therefore called for to ensure relevant strategies
and approaches are developed to close any existing gaps that have been socially
accepted behaviours as sexuality is largely a learned behaviour. I believe to
date no one understands what sexuality is (need for more research), and it is
only when there is body of evidence telling us what sexuality is and how one
can control their physiological abberations can we direct appropriate SE
messages that are contextually relevant to societies. We are facing a damnin”
Remi Akinmade, Community Health
Specialist, Nigeria
“ Family Life Education has been incorporated into the education
curriculum, in Nigeria especially Lagos State, the curriculum encompass
adolescent reproductive heath, self awareness, esteem directed at personal
dreams and vision empowered to negotiate sex, STI/HIV/AIDS and family life
education. The Government and youth lead and focus organization are part of the
curriculum development and implementation.
The stage at which Reproductive Health education starts in school is another issue, in the FLE curriculum, this start in Elementary/Primary School, Classes 5-6 and all ages at middle and high schools and recently HIV & AIDS were introduced to those in lesser grades; through cartoon' Kami and the Big Bird' an introduction to AIDS to especially promote HIV testing and preventing stigma.
On the issue of people's perception that the awareness creation on ARH may expose a child or make a child promiscuous may not be true, this is why we reinforce education of abstinence. If they are not formally informed by teachers and other qualified facilitators, the youths and children learn negatives from their peer.
We can see the result of uninformed youths; teenage pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse that fuels AIDS, violence, high incidence of ST/HIV & AIDS among youths.
Most Information Education and Communication (IEC) are focused on in-School, but the out-of-School outnumber the in-school especially in sub-Saharan Africa. So efforts on ARH and STI/HIV/AIDS should focus also on these vulnerable group. Our organization, Community Health Information Education Forum (CHIEF) has worked extensively among the out-of-school-youths; www.chiefngo.org.”
The stage at which Reproductive Health education starts in school is another issue, in the FLE curriculum, this start in Elementary/Primary School, Classes 5-6 and all ages at middle and high schools and recently HIV & AIDS were introduced to those in lesser grades; through cartoon' Kami and the Big Bird' an introduction to AIDS to especially promote HIV testing and preventing stigma.
On the issue of people's perception that the awareness creation on ARH may expose a child or make a child promiscuous may not be true, this is why we reinforce education of abstinence. If they are not formally informed by teachers and other qualified facilitators, the youths and children learn negatives from their peer.
We can see the result of uninformed youths; teenage pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse that fuels AIDS, violence, high incidence of ST/HIV & AIDS among youths.
Most Information Education and Communication (IEC) are focused on in-School, but the out-of-School outnumber the in-school especially in sub-Saharan Africa. So efforts on ARH and STI/HIV/AIDS should focus also on these vulnerable group. Our organization, Community Health Information Education Forum (CHIEF) has worked extensively among the out-of-school-youths; www.chiefngo.org.”
Dr.
Brijendra Singh N, RCH, consultant at Free-Lance,Inde.
•” Let us accept that in countries like India society will not
change till they feel the urge to change. Parents feel responsible to suitably
support their wards in entering life on points of strength through education,
resources, property, contacts and are guided by their own experiences during
growing up. Thereby they gain an overpowering control particularly on girls in
relation to sexuality. As social norms are changing this control is also
waning. Till education and economic avenues are not assured for boys and girls
by society, parents will have an sayon level of exposure on sex education
through formal education. Economic and social empowerment need to go hand in
hand in particular for girls and reduction of parental role in settling down of
wards in life is prerequisite for univesal acceptance of sex education in
formal education.
Compiled and presented by
Foussénou Sissoko
Health Communication Expert
foussenou@ymail.com/sissokofouss@yahoo.fr
