Better Sex Education Needed for African Adolescents
MIMI Heart & Soul
Written By: Chief K. Masimba Biriwasha
Photo Credits: None
Caption: None
.
Denying that young people engage in sexual activity is a recipe for disaster and the report argues that comprehensive sex education
is effective in improving knowledge and reducing sexual risk behaviors—but that it does not increase sexual behaviour, as many
falsey believe. The study recommends that school curricula should provide comprehensive, accurate sexual and reproductive
health information and should not be exclusively focused on the 'abstinence-until-marriage' approach, because evidence shows that
the latter does not lead to protective behaviours. Furthermore, teachers need to have adequate training in sex education so that
they can provide sex education. More importantly, sex education must be targeted at younger adolescents in order to reach people
before their sexual debut.
The health care system must also be designed in a way that meets the sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents. Youth
friendly corners were young people can receive STI testing and treatment need to be integrated into the health care system. Equally
important is the need to ensure that adolescents have access to a range of contraceptive methods, especially the male condom.
Mobilizing local communities is critical to get support for interventions to address sex education gaps. In sub-Saharan Africa the
media, and in particular radio, can be a powerful way to spread sexual health messages that are tailor-made to meet the diverse
needs of adolescents. Adolescents need to be provided with a multi-dimensional set of tools that help them to delay sexual debut if
possible, resist pressure to engage in unwanted sex, and to practice safer sex, says the report.
MIMI Heart & Soul
Written By: Chief K. Masimba Biriwasha
Photo Credits: None
Caption: None
.
Denying that young people engage in sexual activity is a recipe for disaster and the report argues that comprehensive sex education
is effective in improving knowledge and reducing sexual risk behaviors—but that it does not increase sexual behaviour, as many
falsey believe. The study recommends that school curricula should provide comprehensive, accurate sexual and reproductive
health information and should not be exclusively focused on the 'abstinence-until-marriage' approach, because evidence shows that
the latter does not lead to protective behaviours. Furthermore, teachers need to have adequate training in sex education so that
they can provide sex education. More importantly, sex education must be targeted at younger adolescents in order to reach people
before their sexual debut.
The health care system must also be designed in a way that meets the sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents. Youth
friendly corners were young people can receive STI testing and treatment need to be integrated into the health care system. Equally
important is the need to ensure that adolescents have access to a range of contraceptive methods, especially the male condom.
Mobilizing local communities is critical to get support for interventions to address sex education gaps. In sub-Saharan Africa the
media, and in particular radio, can be a powerful way to spread sexual health messages that are tailor-made to meet the diverse
needs of adolescents. Adolescents need to be provided with a multi-dimensional set of tools that help them to delay sexual debut if
possible, resist pressure to engage in unwanted sex, and to practice safer sex, says the report.
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