About this srcd poster session

---

Panel information
Panel 19. Sex, Gender

Abstract

---

Purpose

This study aimed to explore the adolescent’s knowledge and awareness of sex and reproductive health education in public and private schools. The specific objectives were to identify the content of sex education classes, find out what adolescents anticipated learning about in the sex education class, identify barriers to sex education, and examine the level of awareness of contraceptives.

Background

In some developing countries, adolescents make up for more than half of the population (World Health Organization, 2000). In Nepal, approximately 22 percent of the 28.5 million population are adolescents aged 10-19 years (government projection for 2016). Adolescence is a phase with many developmental changes, one of which includes reproductive and sexual health. However, they receive inadequate knowledge, guidance and service to assist them in navigating paths to adulthood. This prompts them to new influences and pressures to experiment with multiple behaviors that lead to unintended pregnancies, STIs/STDs, HIV/AIDS. Moreover, students in public schools receive inadequate information on sex education due to limited access to materials and knowledgeable teacher (Acharya, 2010). Thus, understanding the gaps between two school types are significant to address health risks faced by Nepalese adolescents.

Method

A descriptive study was conducted using the simple random sampling method in schools of Budhanilkantha Municipality, Kathmandu. The sample included 186 adolescents (94 in public schools; 47 females) from Grades 9 and 10. Participants completed a questionnaires in the investigator's presence that included 16 questions, comprising of both multiple choice and other question formats to assess adolescent’s knowledge regarding the sex education (e.g., “How is HIV transmitted?”, “At what stage of the menstrual cycle is pregnancy most likely to occur?”). Additionally, the questionnaire included 13 statements with Likert scale response options, ranging from “Strongly Agree” to “Strongly Disagree,” to measure adolescent’s attitudes regarding sex education.

Result

Knowledge: Adolescents enrolled in private schools had a greater understanding of sexual and reproductive health than those in public schools (Table 2). However, the expectations of the adolescents about what they think should be included in sex education class were aligned with what was actually taught in schools (e.g., changes that occur during adolescence). Some adolescents perceived that teachers’ discomfort in teaching topics related to sexual and reproductive health education might be a cause of ineffective and inefficient learning. Similarly, a lack of community and schools support has also been brought forward by adolescents in this regard. As for awareness regarding male and female contraceptives, more than half in both schools knew about condoms and pills (53.2%).

Attitudes: Adolescents in private schools had more positive attitudes towards sex and reproductive health education than those in public schools (Table 2).

Discussion

Further discussions seem needed in Nepal on potential strategies to enhance adolescents’ knowledge and positive attitudes towards sex education as well as more resources for the students and teachers alike such as extracurricular activities and capacity building workshops for educators and availability of resource persons to whom students can reach out with questions and concerns. Future research directions will also be discussed.

Author information

Author	Role
Pragya Pokharel, University of Nebraska Lincoln	Presenting author
Dr. Nirmala Devi Bhatta, Central Department of Home Science - Tribhuvan University	Non-presenting author

⇦ Back to session