Friday, April 18, 2008 Oledan: Myth By Radzini Oledan
THE myth of promoting promiscuity.
A study commissioned by the Joint United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS (UN Aids) showed that, of 53 studies on sexual health education and HIV/AIDS interventions, 22 reported that such programs either delayed the onset of sexual activity, reduced the number of sexual partners, or reduced unplanned pregnancies and rates of sexually-transmitted infections.
In popular parlance, Adolescent Reproductive Health and life skills education were effective from the ABC point of view - Abstinence, Being Faithful (to One Partner), and being Conscious about Safer Sex for those already sexually active.
This shows that addressing young people's sexual health in a frank, open and supportive manner results to fewer of the negative consequences of sexual activity.
This means equipping young people with the information and skills so they can take responsibility for their life and their reproductive health, and will enhance their ability to respond to situations that they may face in life.
Every year, millions of youth are at risk of pregnancy, abortion, sexually-transmitted diseases, other reproductive health problems as well as other risky behaviors such as alcohol and substance abuse that can leave imprints for the rest of their lives. Often, they are not aware that they are facing risks. In many instances, there are no services to help them. It is only through information on responsible sexual behavior that will enable children to make choices for themselves.
Paranoia and misinformation that reproductive health programs promote promiscuity effectively shut off young people from dialogue and participation in defining their own sexuality. Educating children on healthy sexuality is also a way to keep them aware of sexual abuse.
The statistics are staggering: one in four girls and one in six boys will be victims of some type of sexual abuse or assault by the time they reach age 18.
There are many types of child sexual abuse, from inappropriate touching, fondling, exposure to pornography, to full forced intercourse and sadistic acts. Abuse may consist of a one-time incident or an ongoing perpetration, which continues throughout childhood into teen years.
Most cases of child sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows: a parent, a sibling, another relative, a family friend, a neighbor, a teacher, a member of the clergy.
In the majority of cases, children do not feel safe to tell anyone what has happened to them. Talking about sex at all is taboo in many families and if a child cannot talk about healthy sexuality and normal bodily functions comfortably, how can they ever tell someone that they have been sexually abused?
Children pick up very subtle cues from adults; if sex is never talked about, or if parents have reacted disapprovingly to any mention of sex or sexualized behavior in their children, then children will be very reluctant to tell if they have been abused.
Children and teens need good information about sex, sexual relationships, reproduction and birth control, sexually transmitted diseases, and sexual abuse. In this high-risk day and age, children and teens need all the information they can get.
To withhold information about sex and the possibility of sexual abuse, as well as information about reproduction and disease, puts all children at risk.
Refusing to talk about sex does not mean that children are safe, that nothing bad will happen to them. Within this context, value formation, life skills education and teaching our young people about healthy sexuality must continue. Programs and services must reach our young people wherever they are, whenever they need them. (Email comments to roledan@gmail.com.)
