Reproductive health and the youth

Based on 2006 surveys, an average of 23.1% of the youth now engage in PMS; 15% for female and 31% for male. It was reported that 57% of the young people have unplanned first sex experience. Every year, 14 million children are born to adolescent women. Ten percent of all births and 80 million pregnancies in the world every year are unwanted.

Unwanted pregnancies are common among female students. This resulted to serious problems with their families. Many postponed their schooling and get menial jobs to meet the needs of their baby.

One common problem in a case like this is lack of dialogue between the parents and the son or daughter. The family is the basic unit of the society and life education including sexuality must start from it. However, the channel of communication seems to be dysfunctional among many families now. Some parents say that it is improper and unethical to talk about intimate issues with the members of the family. They believe, it's the job of the school instructors.

Actually, life education in schools is not as effective as the education at home. The instructor handles many students and its hard for him to monitor individually his students' activity more so with their sexuality problem.

What is alarming is that even primary pupils are catching up with the teen-agers about sex. Their young minds are poisoned by what they have observed in the environment especially the media.

I have discovered one Grade VI pupil browsing a sexy magazine. I even heard him talk about nude cartoons he saw on the Internet and heard him using taboo American words.

It is absolutely essential for the family to discuss concerns like reproductive health, gender sensitivity, sexuality and rights. The youth information on sex must be intelligent and sensible and not the kind they will pick up from the streets.

Involving young people as program leaders and as educators and counselors can sometimes yield better outcomes than adult professionals.

Our youth must be trained how to cope with this problem. Instead of becoming a victim, they should be guided to identify messages, communication channels and activities popular in their subculture. Youth can bring new and vital ideas to the programs, coupled with high energy to carry out the tasks.

Based on the research and studies of the Visayan Reproductive Health Initiative, young people can effectively publicize program activities and draw the interest of their peers in becoming program participants. Youth spokespersons can give credibility to the program and serve as an outreach link to the community.

Involving young people as program leaders and as educators and counselors can sometimes yield better outcomes than adult professionals. Training and experience as peer educators enhance skills, self-esteem and leadership potential among the involved youth.