By THANDIWE MOYO-
OVER the years, Zambia has been experiencing alarming numbers of school dropouts among girls due to pregnancy.
According to the Statistical Bulletin produced by the Ministry of Education, more than 17,000 girls dropped out of school between 2007 to 2009.
In 2010, more than 11,000 girls quit education due to pregnancy while more than 15,000 dropped out of school in 2011.
Sadly, some pupils who engage in sexual activities get infected with Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), including HIV.
Studies have also indicated that most of the affected school girls do not have adequate knowledge on sexuality education to enable them adopt mitigation measures.
In this regard, the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) framework has been developed to enrich the provision of Reproductive Health and Sexuality Education (RHSE) and ultimately address the knowledge gaps.
CSE can provide young people with age appropriate and culturally relevant and scientifically accurate information.
It includes structured opportunities for young people to gain knowledge, skills and positive attitudes and values which can help them apply life skills in addressing challenges with regards to their sexuality.
Properly designed and implemented, sexuality education can play a significant role in reducing the risk of STIs, including HIV transmission, unintended pregnancies, cohesive or abusive sexual activity and exploitation.
Effective sexuality education is a vital part of HIV prevention and is also critical to achieving universal access targets for reproductive health, HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.
Regrettably, some parents are not convinced of about the need for sexuality education and are reluctant to provide it as they believe that it promotes immoral behaviour.
So far, there is no evidence which suggests that young people with sexual and reproductive health information and education are more inclined to engage in sexual activities.
Moreover, CSE classes have been proven to reduce misinformation and increase young people’s skills to make informed decisions about their health.
In fact, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) found that some CSE programmes delayed initiation of sexual activities by 37 per cent and reduced the frequency of such activities by 31 per cent.
The programmes also reduced the number of sexual partners by 44 per cent and increased the use of condoms and contraception by 40 per cent.
It is undeniable that CSE is an essential part of HIV prevention especially among the young people.
CSE is arguably more effective in preventing STIs than education that focuses solely on teaching abstinence.
Zambia Association for Gynaecologists and Obstetricians (ZAGO) president Webby Macha said CSE is cardinal and should be rolled out to adolescents in an age-specific and culturally sensitive manner.
Dr Macha is of the view that issues such as menstrual hygiene, delaying sexual debut, prevention of HIV/STIs and sexuality should be discussed.
“It should be noted that for adolescents, the focus is abstinence and encouraging them to concentrate on education. However, a few older adolescents in the age group 15 to 19 years who may fail to abstain may be offered contraception – preferably condoms – that prevent both pregnancy and HIV/STIs. They also need education to help them make informed decisions,” he said.
Dr Macha said CSE has helped teenagers to understand themselves biologically and prepare to face the world.
Contact Trust Youth Association Executive Director Ronnie Jere said CSE has empowered girls and boys to speak up if their sexual boundaries are violated.
According to Mr Jere, it has long been recognised that countries that have more open and positive attitude toward sexuality have better sexual health outcomes.
Mr Jere said sex education programmes have been proven effective in delaying first sexual activity and increasing use of contraception among sexually active youth and empowerment against sexual violence.
“When young people have information, they make decisions because we all know that information is power. No parent would teach or advocate for young people to indulge in sex. However, young people are having sex. This is why it is important to give them information on abstaining. If they cannot abstain, then they need to protect themselves,” he said.
Mr Jere said it is unfortunate that some parents and some groups demonise CSE without understanding the relevance of the topics and the benefits towards adolescents.
“Sexuality education does not increase sexual activity but rather promotes safe sexual behaviour, increases the knowledge on different aspects of sexuality and risks of early unintended pregnancy, HIV and other STIs,” he said.
Center for Reproductive Health and Education Executive Director Amos Mwale said adolescents, especially girls, face several sexual and reproductive health challenges.
“In Zambia, 29 per cent of women aged 15 to 19 have begun child bearing. Our country has one of the highest rates of child early marriages as we have 31 per cent of those aged 20 to 24 reporting to be married before the age of 18,” he said.
According to Mr Mwale, Zambia reported about 2,653 cases of defilement in 2019 out of which 2,637 were against girls and only 16 were against boys.
The alarming numbers of girls being defiled should make people support CSE lessons because the information obtained from the education will help equip girls with knowledge that will protect them.
Mr Mwale said early and forced marriages interrupt girls’ right to education and robs them opportunities to advance their careers.
CSE, which is important in the life cycle of a child, is a curriculum–based process of teaching and learning about the cognitive, emotional, physical and social aspects of sexuality.
“As Civil Society Organisations, we have dedicated our lives to ensure that young people, especially girls, are equipped with necessary, relevant and appropriate skills,” he said.
There is no doubt that sexuality education exposes young boys and girls to material that not only reduces their risk of unplanned pregnancy and disease, but also enlightens and empowers them.
To curb high adolescent pregnancy rates, governments can enforce policies that protect and promote women’s and girls’ rights, including the right to comprehensive sexual education.
CSE in schools will certainly contribute to the reduction of the various education challenges that come by due to limited information on sexuality education among youths.