Adolescents’ perceptions of sexual and reproductive health education in secondary school in Nyamagana District, Mwanza Region, Tanzania
Salome Focus CUHAS/MD/4002039/T/17
Adolescents’ perceptions of sexual and reproductive health education in secondary school in Nyamagana District, Mwanza Region, Tanzania - Mwanza, Tanzania: Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences [CUHAS – Bugando] ©25.08.2021 - ix; 31 Page Includes References and Appendices
Abstract:
Background: There is a wide variation among societies when it comes to the issues of adolescents’ health and behaviors but they all experience sexual and reproductive health as the major challenge. Like in other middle and low income countries, adolescents in Tanzania have limited social, education and health services when it comes to their sexual and reproductive health which contributes to making them victims of unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortion STIs including HIV. Though they may get the informal education about sexual and reproductive health from their parents or guardian, friends, mass media etc, still there are many cases of teenage pregnancy, unsafe abortion and many other risky behaviors thus, the aim of this study was to assess adolescents’ perceptions of sexual and reproductive health education in Tanzania. Specifically the study aimed at determining adolescents’ opinions on the appropriateness of sexual and reproductive health education in secondary schools also the study aimed at assessing different factors that affect adolescents’ perceptions of sexual and reproductive health education.
Methodology: The study was conducted in secondary schools of Nyamagana district Mwanza region. It was a cross-sectional study where by simple random sampling procedure was employed and a total of five secondary schools were chosen with 322 respondents from form three, form four, form five and form six that are aged 18 to 19 years who were interviewed using questionnaires. Data were collected by using questionnaires and the collected data was analyzed by using SPSS version 20 and the data was sorted out using frequency tables.
Results: The findings revealed that majority of adolescents have good perception of sexual and reproductive health education. They view sexual and reproductive health education as important and should be provided in schools. Furthermore, findings have revealed that the sexual and reproductive health education is appropriate for students aged 12-14 years .In addition it was found that culture, early sexual debut, age and religion are the key factors which affect adolescents’ perceptions of sexual and reproductive health education.
Conclusion: Adolescents’ lives are based on well understood lessons about sexual and reproductive health for them to live a happy life. Sexual and reproductive health education is appropriate to adolescents aged 12-15 years and it should be taught in school as one of the subjects. Also schools and mass media are important sources of SRH information to students. The role of parents in provision of SRH education should is of great importance as they are the primary caretakers of these adolescents. Importantly, culture, early sexual debut, age and religion are the most factors influencing the adolescents perception of SRH education.
Recommendation: The study recommends that SRH education should be taught in school as one of the subjects and in close association with parents or guardians. Also mass media, health care workers (nurses and doctors) should also be at the forefront to provide this education to adolescents through outreach services. Without forgetting the religious places and the society as a whole should play a part in educating adolescents about sexual and reproductive health.
Phone: +255 28 298 3384 Fax: +255 28 298 3386 Email: vc@bugando.ac.tz Website: www.bugando.ac.tz
--Community Medicine--Epidermiology and Biostatistics
Adolescents’ perceptions of sexual and reproductive health education in secondary school in Nyamagana District, Mwanza Region, Tanzania - Mwanza, Tanzania: Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences [CUHAS – Bugando] ©25.08.2021 - ix; 31 Page Includes References and Appendices
Abstract:
Background: There is a wide variation among societies when it comes to the issues of adolescents’ health and behaviors but they all experience sexual and reproductive health as the major challenge. Like in other middle and low income countries, adolescents in Tanzania have limited social, education and health services when it comes to their sexual and reproductive health which contributes to making them victims of unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortion STIs including HIV. Though they may get the informal education about sexual and reproductive health from their parents or guardian, friends, mass media etc, still there are many cases of teenage pregnancy, unsafe abortion and many other risky behaviors thus, the aim of this study was to assess adolescents’ perceptions of sexual and reproductive health education in Tanzania. Specifically the study aimed at determining adolescents’ opinions on the appropriateness of sexual and reproductive health education in secondary schools also the study aimed at assessing different factors that affect adolescents’ perceptions of sexual and reproductive health education.
Methodology: The study was conducted in secondary schools of Nyamagana district Mwanza region. It was a cross-sectional study where by simple random sampling procedure was employed and a total of five secondary schools were chosen with 322 respondents from form three, form four, form five and form six that are aged 18 to 19 years who were interviewed using questionnaires. Data were collected by using questionnaires and the collected data was analyzed by using SPSS version 20 and the data was sorted out using frequency tables.
Results: The findings revealed that majority of adolescents have good perception of sexual and reproductive health education. They view sexual and reproductive health education as important and should be provided in schools. Furthermore, findings have revealed that the sexual and reproductive health education is appropriate for students aged 12-14 years .In addition it was found that culture, early sexual debut, age and religion are the key factors which affect adolescents’ perceptions of sexual and reproductive health education.
Conclusion: Adolescents’ lives are based on well understood lessons about sexual and reproductive health for them to live a happy life. Sexual and reproductive health education is appropriate to adolescents aged 12-15 years and it should be taught in school as one of the subjects. Also schools and mass media are important sources of SRH information to students. The role of parents in provision of SRH education should is of great importance as they are the primary caretakers of these adolescents. Importantly, culture, early sexual debut, age and religion are the most factors influencing the adolescents perception of SRH education.
Recommendation: The study recommends that SRH education should be taught in school as one of the subjects and in close association with parents or guardians. Also mass media, health care workers (nurses and doctors) should also be at the forefront to provide this education to adolescents through outreach services. Without forgetting the religious places and the society as a whole should play a part in educating adolescents about sexual and reproductive health.
Phone: +255 28 298 3384 Fax: +255 28 298 3386 Email: vc@bugando.ac.tz Website: www.bugando.ac.tz
--Community Medicine--Epidermiology and Biostatistics