Article Written by: Konge Fellan(an AGYW)
Parents play a unique role in providing and facilitating their children in acquiring sexual and reproductive health knowledge. However, many parents are reluctant to discuss sexual matters with their children due to the sensitivity of the topic and their lack of sexual health knowledge. It’s not surprising that some parents don’t know when their children start menstruating and some don’t even provide sanitary pads to their children regularly. This can only exposed the teenagers to external source of information and income making them liability to men by so increasing the rate of HIV infection and other STDs, unplanned pregnancy and abortion amongst teenagers.
I remember at the age of 10 when my grandma use to tell me that very soon I will become a women and blood Will be flowing from my Vagina every month and if I sleep with a boy then I will get pregnant and drop out of school to take care of myself and baby and my friends will move ahead of me. This was always her doctrine to me until at 12 when I started menstruating and she continually warm me to stay off boys especially those who make advance for sex or relationship. She was strict in her teaching and I thought she was harsh but until when I reach 18 and discovered that her advise even though was not plain but help me a lot through out my teenage age.
I also believe that if she had adequate knowledge on sex education I could be more better than the way I was and if other parents can have the right knowledge, the Sexual and reproductive health of AGYW will be more better than what we have today.
All together I’m writing this urging all Parents to Play the following role in their children’s sexual health
1. Encourage Open Dialogue: Foster an environment where teenagers feel comfortable discussing questions, concerns, and curiosities about sexual health without fear of judgment or stigma.
2. Online Safety: Educate teenagers on digital literacy, online safety, and positive interactions in digital spaces, ensuring awareness of potential risks and harm.
3 Supporting Diverse identities:Acknowledge and validate the diverse range of gender identities and sexual orientations, creating an inclusive space for teenagers to explore their identities.
4.Promote Healthy Boundaries: Educate teenagers about consent, healthy relationships, and the importance of setting boundaries, empowering them to make respectful decisions.
5.Offer Reliable Information: Equip teenagers with accurate, age-appropriate, and comprehensive knowledge about sexual and reproductive health, ensuring they have a strong foundation to make informed decisions.
To conclude evidence has confirmed that sexuality education does not hasten sexual activity, but has a positive impact on safer sexual behaviours and can delay sexual debut and increase condom use so parents play your part.
By Konge Fellan Asonyu
HOVUCA strong girl
