CHANGING EMPHASES IN SEXUALITY EDUCATION AMONG ADOLESCENCE

Abstract

The current study was designed to investigate the changing emphasis on sexuality
education in Nigeria. This brings about consciousness and awareness in the subject matters.
Despite various awareness programmes of sexuality education in the mass and electronic
media young people engage in risky sexual behaviour for several reasons .Such reasons include
the following: Economic factor, Cultural factors, Lack of adequate information, Poverty and
Social consequences. The need to inform young people about the causes and consequences of
uncontrolled rapid population growth has become paramount hence the National Population
Policy of 1988 which was recently revised and officially launched in February 2005, was put in
place with emphases on population education as a potential vehicle to translate the population
Policy into action (Forrest & Silverman , 1989).Sexuality education is a process of learning
about how an individual can be comfortable with all aspects of being human. Sexuality
education can also be described as a process of providing information, skills and services that
enables person to adopt safe sexual behaviours including abstainess, non-penetrative sex such as
hugging, holding hands, as well as correct and consistent use of condom. Sexually healthy
behaviours also include seeking care from trained health workers during incidence of any
reproductive morbidity such as sexually transmitted infection (STIs), unwanted pregnancy and
infertility (Adesokan, 2009).Sexuality Education has changed from traditional concept to
modern concept .Increased Knowledge about sexuality matters. Attitudinal and Behavioural
Change, Abstinence as the key for effective sexuality education, Emphasis on sexuality education
bring about prevention of unwanted pregnancy, Increase Gender Equality and Prevention of
Gender Violence. Emphasis on sexuality education bring about assertiveness skills, life and
family building skills..The provision of sexual and reproductive health services for young people
and the development of life-skills and sex education inside and outside of schools which center
on the realities of young people’s lives and their needs , as expressed by adolescents themselves
remain in an early stage.