Relevance of Sexuality Education to Advancing the Sexual and Reproductive Health on Young People


Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is an age-appropriate, culturally relevant approach to teaching about sex and relationships by providing scientifically accurate, realistic, and non-judgmental information ((Stefiszzn 2014). It provides opportunities to explore one’s own values and attitudes and to build decision-making, communication and risk reduction skills about many aspects of sexuality (Stefiszzn 2014). The term ‘comprehensive’ emphasises an approach to sexuality education that encompasses the full range of information, skills and values to enable young people exercise their sexual and reproductive rights and to make values to enable young people exercise their sexual and reproductive rights and to make decisions about their health and sexuality (UNESCO 2014). CSE should not be conflated with sex education which merely lays emphasis on issues relating to sex.
CSE includes, but not limited, to the following:
• the human sexual anatomy
• sexual reproduction
• reproductive health
• reproductive rights and responsibilities
• emotional relations
 • abstinence
• contraception
• other aspects of human sexual and non-sexual behaviour.
Furthermore, CSE must be based on core universal value of human rights; must have integrated focus on gender; must be based on thorough and scientifically accurate information; must make a link to sexual and reproductive health initiatives; must create an enabling environment where learners and teachers can air their views and must adopt a participatory teaching approach..8 Sexuality education should not be conflated with sex education which merely lay emphasis on issues relating to sex.
CSE delivered within a safe and enabling learning environment and alongside access to health services has a positive and life-long effect on the health and well-being of young people. CSE is important to children and young people because it provides accurate information on topics that they are curious about and which they have a need to know (UNESCO et al 2009). Also, it provides children and young people with opportunities to explore values, attitudes and norms concerning sexual and social relationships. CSE promotes the acquisition of skills; and encourages children and young people to assume responsibility for their own behaviour and to respect the rights of others (UNAIDS et al 2015). It further promotes the realisation of the right to health because it contributes to the reduction of maternal mortality, unsafe abortion, unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV (UNAIDS et al 2015)
Despite the importance of sexuality education discussed above, parents and guardians have expressed concerns about its teaching in some parts of Nigeria. Some of the reasons for opposing the teaching of sexuality education include the fact that it encourages young people to experiment with sex, undermines moral values of children and conflicts with the religious beliefs of parents. However, studies by many UN agencies including WHO and UNPFA have found sexuality education empowers young people to make informed decisions about sex and delay the debut of sexual relations, reduce frequency of sexual activity and reduce the number of sexual partners. Given the importance of sexuality education to improving the health needs of young people and preventing sexual and reproductive ill health, it is crucial that the Nigerian government strive to ensure an enabling legal framework that will guarantee access to it.

BY  Dr Durojaye 
CWIDI

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