Evaluating the need for sex education in developing countries: sexual behaviour, knowledge of preventing sexually transmitted infections/HIV and unplanned pregnancy

Singh, Susheela; Bankole, Akinrinola; Woog, Vanessa

doi:10.1080/14681810500278089

Cited by 58 publications

(53 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…This will require systematic, sustained and co-ordinated programmes of activity that involve all relevant Government sectors including health, education and social welfare. The importance of community support for such programmes is essential [26] and involving key stakeholders including policy makers, schools, parents and adolescents in their development and implementation will ensure that that they are acceptable and appropriate. It is also important to build rigorous evaluation into the process to determine their effectiveness.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual and reproductive knowledge, attitudes and behaviours in a school going population of Sri Lankan adolescents

Rajapaksa-Hewageegana¹,

Piercy

Salway

et al. 2015

Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare

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The reproductive and sexual health of adolescents is an important health concern and a focus of global attention. In Sri Lanka, a lack of understanding about adolescent reproductive and sexual health needs is a matter of national concern.A survey was undertaken to examine the sexual knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of school going adolescents in Sri Lanka. A random sample of schools was selected from one district. Data were collected by a self-completion questionnaire and analysed using SPSS. Response rate was 90%. 2020 pupils (26% boys, 74% girls) aged 16-19 years (mean = 16.9) participated, the majority Singhalese (97%).Most reported a good parent-child relationship (88%). A minority (34%) discussed sexual issues with parents. Health professionals were the preferred source of sexual information (32%) rather than parents (12.5%) or friends (5.6%). Less than 1% demonstrated satisfactory sexual and reproductive knowledge levels. 1.7% were sexually active (30 boys vs 5 girls), the majority with same age partners. 57% used contraception at first intercourse.There is an imperative to address the lack of sexual and reproductive knowledge. A minority of school going adolescents become sexually active. These individuals are potentially vulnerable and services need to be developed to meet their needs.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual and reproductive knowledge, attitudes and behaviours in a school going population of Sri Lankan adolescents

Rajapaksa-Hewageegana¹,

Piercy

Salway

et al. 2015

Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare

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“…Even in countries where most young people are aware of HIV/AIDS, they often have little idea of exactly how it is transmitted or how to avoid becoming infected and few have typically heard of other STIs (Alan Guttmacher Institute 2006;Bankole et al 2007;Dehne and Riedner 2005;Matasha et al 1998;Ross et al 2006;Singh et al 2005;Temin et al 1999;Vuttanont et al 2006). Young adolescents, in particular, are very unlikely to recognize the symptoms of the most common viral and bacterial STIs; to know that some infections (especially among girls) may be asymptomatic; to know that infections can be passed to the mouth and rectum (and by men or boys to boys) as well as to the genitals; to know that they must be medically diagnosed; and to know where to go for STI/HIV counseling, testing, or treatment.…”

Section: Filling the Knowledge Gapmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Educational initiatives clearly need to start young (in primary school); to be realistic, interactive and sustained; to teach practical value-identification and negotiating skills; and, where possible, to reach adolescents with ''straight talk'' about their bodies and their sexual rights and obligations before they drop out of school-if they are attending at all-and before they become sexually active, by any definition (Adamchak et al 2007;Rogow and Haberland 2005;Ross et al 2006;Singh et al 2005;Speizer et al 2003;UNICEF et al 2002;Vuttanont et al 2006). …”

Section: Filling the Knowledge Gapmentioning

confidence: 98%

Starting Young: Sexual Initiation and HIV Prevention in Early Adolescence

Dixon-Mueller

2008

AIDS Behav

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The rising numbers of new HIV infections among young people ages 15-24 in many developing countries, especially among young women, signal an urgent need to identify and respond programmatically to behaviors and situations that contribute to the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in early adolescence. Quantitative and qualitative studies of the sexual knowledge and practices of adolescents age 14 and younger reveal that substantial numbers of boys and girls in many countries engage in unprotected heterosexual vaginal intercourse--by choice or coercion--before their 15th birthdays. Early initiation into male-male or male-female oral and/or anal sex is also documented in some populations. Educational, health, and social programs must reach 10-14-year-olds as well as older adolescents with the information, skills, services, and supplies (condoms, contraceptives) they need to negotiate their own protection from unwanted and/or unsafe sexual practices and to respect the rights of others.

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“…6 Despite the large number of risk factors associated with teenage pregnancies, reproductive health knowledge and the adoption of modern contraception remain low in many developing countries. 7,8 In many countries in subSaharan Africa, more than 50% of unmarried, sexually active 15-to 19-year-old adolescents have an unmet need for modern contraception. 2,9 Over the past 10 years, mobile phone access has skyrocketed in LMICs, from 22 subscriptions per 100 people in 2005 to 90 in 2014.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of a Text-Messaging Program on Adolescent Reproductive Health: A Cluster–Randomized Trial in Ghana

et al. 2017

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Evaluating the need for sex education in developing countries: sexual behaviour, knowledge of preventing sexually transmitted infections/HIV and unplanned pregnancy

Cited by 58 publications

References 14 publications

Sexual and reproductive knowledge, attitudes and behaviours in a school going population of Sri Lankan adolescents

Sexual and reproductive knowledge, attitudes and behaviours in a school going population of Sri Lankan adolescents

Starting Young: Sexual Initiation and HIV Prevention in Early Adolescence

Impact of a Text-Messaging Program on Adolescent Reproductive Health: A Cluster–Randomized Trial in Ghana

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