SEX
EDUCATION EQUIPS YOUNG PEOPLE
-Dr. Khem Karki
SOLID-Nepal, President
"Sex education encourages students
to become sexually active at younger ages."
"Teaching students about contraception encourages
sexual activity and increases the chance of teenage pregnancy."
These two are common myths about sex education. In contrary,
Sex education so far is the best method to empower young
people with life saving skills. The World Health Organization
in 1993 reviewed evaluations of 47 programs in different
countries including United States. In 15 studies, sex
and HIV/AIDS education neither increased nor decreased
sexual activity, rates of pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted
Infections. However, in 17 studies, sex education delayed
the onset of sexual activity, reduced the number of sexual
partners, unplanned pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted
Infection rates. Similarly, expert panels have studied
whether contraceptive education encourages the sexual
activity, have concluded that comprehensive sex and relationships
education and availability of condom do not increase sexual
activity and can be effective in reducing high-risk sexual
behaviours among young people.
According to UN organizations and International Planned
Parenthood Federation, sex education, which is sometimes
called sexuality education or sex and relationships education,
is the process of acquiring information and forming attitudes
and beliefs about sex, sexual identity, relationships
and intimacy. It is also about developing young people's
skills so that they make informed choices about their
behaviour, and feel confident and competent about acting
on these choices. It is widely accepted that young people
have a right to sex education. They are helped to protect
themselves against abuse, exploitation, unintended pregnancies,
sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS.
Sex Education is a continuous process to develop required
life skills for all ages. However, focus has been given
to young people aged 10 – 24 years. Of several reasons,
50 percent of worlds' current population consists of under
25 people; 50% of total HIV infected are also under 25
and seven out of ten sexually transmitted infections occurs
in 15-24 years aged population. Likewise, HIV infection
is increasing most rapidly among young people in the world.
Every day, nearly 6,000 young people become infected with
HIV. Half of all new infections occur among young people
aged 15 to 24.
In Nepal, out of total population, it carries 59 percent
under 25 with 32 percent 10-24 years aged people. According
to UNICEF study carried out among teenagers in Nepal,
one out of five teenagers argues that premarital sexual
relationships are acceptable. Study further reveals that
14 percent of girls respondents had had unintended pregnancy
and 13 percent had got STIs due to unsafe sexual relations.
Among boys, 22 percent had STIs. Globally, among girls
aged 15 to 19, 15 million give birth each year and 4 million
undergo abortions —many unsafe. Only 17 percent
of sexually active young people use contraceptives.
Use of contraception among young people is also very low
in Nepal. According to Demographic and Health Survey Nepal
2001, only 12 percent girls and 20 percent boys of the
teenage married couples have used temporary contraception.
Young people in Nepal have very limited and misguided
information about sex and sexuality.
UNFPA has estimated that about 82 million girls in developing
countries get married before their 18th birthday. Early
marriage often leads to early childbearing, which not
only limits life opportunities but also carries serious
health risks.
Keeping all these in view, sex education has been designed
that seeks both to reduce the risks of potentially negative
outcomes from sexual behaviour like unwanted or unplanned
pregnancies and infection with sexually transmitted diseases,
and to enhance the quality of relationships. It is also
about developing young people's ability to make decisions
over their entire lifetime
Sex education does not only impart accurate and need based
information but also develops life skills to young people.
Effective sex education develops young people's skills
in negotiation, decision-making, assertion and listening.
Sex Education also helps equip young people with the skills
to be able to differentiate between accurate and inaccurate
information, discuss a range of moral and social issues
and perspectives on sex and sexuality, including different
cultural attitudes and sensitive issues like sexuality,
abortion and contraception.
Young people should have accurate information on sexual
development, reproduction, contraception, abortion, relationships,
the physical and emotional changes associated with puberty
and about sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS.
In terms of information about relationships they need
to know about what kinds of relationships there are, about
love and commitment, marriage and partnership and the
law relating to sexual behaviour and relationships as
well as the range of religious and cultural views on sex
and sexuality and sexual diversity.
Researches have suggested that sex education should start
before young people reaching in to sexually active age
so that they can cope with difficult situation. However,
the precise age at which information should be provided
depends on the physical, emotional and intellectual development
of the young people as well as their level of understanding.
This also means that sex education has to be sustained.
Different settings provide different contexts and opportunities
for sex education. At home, young people can easily have
one-to-one discussions with parents or carers which focus
on specific issues, questions or concerns. The most effective
sex education acknowledges the different contributions
each setting can make.
School-based sex education can be an important and effective
way of enhancing young people's knowledge, attitudes and
behaviour. Evidence suggests that effective school programmes
should include a focus on reducing specific risky behaviours
and in theories which explain what influences people's
sexual choices and behaviour. Sex education should provide
a clear, accurate and continuously reinforced message
about sexual behaviour. Dealing with peer and other social
pressures on young people is a fundamental skill that
is learned through sex education.
Nepal has also incorporated sex education into its school
level education since last year. School-based education
programmes are particularly good at providing information
and opportunities for skills development and attitude
clarification in more formal ways, through lessons within
a curriculum. Community-based projects provide opportunities
for young people to access advice and information in less
formal ways. Sexual health and other health and welfare
services can provide access to specific information, support
and advice. Sex education through the mass media, often
supported by local, regional or national Government and
non-governmental agencies and departments, can help to
raise public awareness of sexual health issues. Sex education
really works to save our generation and gives socially,
mentally and physically healthy life.
References
· WHO.2003 Orientation Program on Adolescent health
for Health Care Providers
· www.WHO.Intreproductive health
· Progress in Reproductive Health and Research,
Vol 65, 66,67,68,69 Department of Reproductive Health
and Research,WHO Geneva,2005
· www.unfpa.org
· www.ippf.org
· UNICEF,2001 teenagers in Nepal,2001
· Ministry of Health Nepal/New Era and ORC Macro
(2002), Nepal Demographic and Health Survey2001. Calverton.
Maryland USA, Family Health Division MOH; New Era and
Orc macov
· Karki k. et. al 2002, Need of Sex education:
Parents teachers and Students, Perception and Preferences;
Society for Local Integrated Development Nepal and University
of Southampton, UK
(Dr. Karki is Executive Director for Society for Local
Integrated Development Nepal )
