Sexual and reproductive health and rights: implications for comprehensive sex education among young people in Uganda

Abstract

This paper presents the findings from an explorative study comparing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) against local realities for young people in Uganda. This was done by analysing statements by Ugandan adolescents extracted from focus group discussions relating to two SRHRs central in this research: (1) the right of young people to complete and accurate information; and (2) the right to self-determination. We found discrepancies between these universally formulated rights and the (political, economic and community) context young Ugandans live in. Consequently, we argue how comprehensive rights-based sex education should take this local reality into account to make SRHR meaningful for Ugandan adolescents. Implications for the content, form and context of comprehensive rights-based sex education are discussed.

Keywords:

• sex education
• sexual and reproductive health
• religious norms
• rights
• Uganda

Acknowledgements

We express our special thanks to SchoolNet Uganda and teachers from the schools participating in the study. We are particularly grateful to the students who participated in the FGDs for their honesty and openness in discussing their views on different topics relating to SRHR.