Get real – young people have sex
Last year there was uproar about the Zimbabwe Ministry of Education’s new policy of allowing expecting teenagers parental leave from school. This year the National Aids Council has proposed the introduction of condoms into schools as a way of fighting HIV/AIDS. This has also been met by a public outcry. Even organisations purporting to represent the best interests of young people are in denial about teenagers having sex.
Newsday quotes Programmes director for Justice for Children Trust, Caleb Mutandwa as saying: “I think for us as an organisation, seconding the placement of condoms in schools will be difficult to support. Most children in schools are young and the majority of those at secondary school are still below age, below the age of 16. What will they need them for?”
Youth Forum senior programmes officer Terrence Chimhavi also agreed, citing a lack of curricula designed to teach adolescents about contraceptives. He added, “Instead they should be taught about the disadvantages of engaging in sexual activities and be taught about how to abstain.”
The reasons why adolescents engage in sex are numerous and complex, but surely the most terrifying is economic. Intergenerational sex, where young girls have sex with older men for money, is a well-documented phenomenon. Several reports have concluded that consensual or forced sexual relations between vulnerable girls and older men – is driving much of the AIDS epidemic in southern Africa because many of the men are HIV-infected. According to UNAIDS, four out of five new infections in Zimbabwe in the 15-24 year old age group in 2005 were among girls. More specifically at risk of infection within the group are adolescents, as evidenced by the MOHCW (2000) study in which girls in the 15-19 years age group had an infection rate about five times that of males in the same age group.
It is no longer enough to say that good girls or boys don’t have sex before marriage. Our traditional systems are collapsing, the high number of illegal abortions and the disturbing media reports of children who have been sexually assaulted by relatives should be adequate evidence of this. If we are to raise an HIV-free generation we have to look at the problem objectively, without being pious or self righteous. Our children need a sex-education curriculum that is unprejudiced and presents them with all their options, not just abstinence. They need greater access to reproductive services without being stigmatised by healthcare workers. Policy makers and non-governmental workers need to address the economic reasons young girls are having sex, and to stop living in denial. It is irresponsible to prescribe solutions that they personally do not practise.
Wednesday, June 22nd 2011 at 4:32 pm
There are two sides of the coin here
1. We need to educate and protect our children.
2. There are children who are already engaging in sex knowingly or by default. (Abuse etc).
Now the question is how we deal with this as a country without encouraging or putting our children at risk and be clear on target groups . We need to come up with home grown solution taking into account our culture and environment we are operating in. We definitely should not copy cat what is happening in other countries because those who has done so( introduced condom use at schools) have studied the situation and agreed as a nation how to go about it, taking into account their bylaws, statues, policies and age of majority into account. I will advocate that we go back to the drawing board and engage as many stakeholders as feasible possible- parents, teachers, youth, churches and the experts in the field for us as a country to fully appreciate this new development without pointing fingers. We are all responsible for our children’s well being and for their development into responsible and respected citizens. The key ministries and legislators should be in the fore front to share their policies for a constructive development.
Lets educate and inform our children about sexual and reproductive health risks for them to make informed choices. Starting from homes – unsafe sex, infections, unwanted pregnancy, complications and deaths related due to high risk behaviours. Boys and girls should be equally responsible.