Embracing teen sexuality: Teenagers’ assessment of sexuality education in Uganda

abstract

Scholars in the related literature show that sexuality education contributes to positive sexual outcomes among teenagers, including reduction in risky sexual behaviour, construction of positive images of responsible behaviour, and reduced rates of sexual abuse and unplanned teenage pregnancies. Other benefits include increased contraceptive use and greater confidence in negotiating sexual encounters and self-esteem. In Uganda there is evidence that teenagers are increasingly engaging in risky sexual behaviours, as shown by high rates of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS among this age group and high rate of unplanned teenage pregnancies, an indicator of limited sexual knowledge about their developing sexuality. Drawing on in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with teenagers, teachers and parents, the article examines the extent to which sexuality knowledge drawn from home and school address teenagers’ lived sexual experiences. It is evident that the education offered is inadequate, largely prescriptive and feminised, generally divorced from teenagers’ personal experiences, and sometimes even contradictory. The article illuminates the need for a rigorous re-examination of the current sexuality learning resources and advocates an empowerment approach that integrates considerations of gender dynamics throughout the teaching of sexuality matters to address both boys’ and girls’ sexual needs.

Keywords:

• teenage sexuality
• teenage pregnancy
• gender
• sexuality education
• Uganda

Notes

1. Informal sources of sexuality knowledge for teenagers include the media (TV, Radio, internet, newspapers), reading materials (books, magazines and novels), parents and other relatives, peers (friends) and other resource persons from either government or non government organizations and religious fora (church, youth conferences and seminars, Mosque).

2. These courses are examined and contribute to the attainment of the Uganda Ordinary Certificate of Education (UCE).

3. These involved the senior women and men teachers, the subject teachers of Biology, Christian Religious Education, Islamic Religious Education, Social Etiquette and moral education, patrons of health/HIV and AIDS clubs and matrons.