Sexuality Education in Primary and Secondary School as a Strategy in the Prevention of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

Abstract

Sexuality education in primary and secondary schools as a strategy in the prevention of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection in Nigeria was examined. This was with a view to identifying, factors militating against or in favour of the implementation of the subject.The need to articulate the best approach of implementation of sexuality education informed the choice of this study. A Pilot study of sexuality education in primary and secondary schools was conducted in Niger State of Nigeria. The target population in the study was teachers. Injunctions were obtained from both the Holy Quran and Bible to illustrate the provision of sexuality education in Islam and Christianity. Further information on sexuality education was obtained from relevant documents and organisations. The pilot study revealed that sexuality education was taught only in eight (27%) out of the total of 30 schools involved in the study. Of the total number of respondents (526) only 179 (34%) were trained in sexuality education. Factors identified to influencing implementation are culture, religion and government policy, of which religion was predominant. Reasons given for not teaching sexuality education include: inclusion of contraception in the curriculum, young age of schools children, and propensity to sexual promiscuity, none inclusion of sexuality education in the schools' syllabus and lack of trained teachers in the subject. Information from FMOH, FMOE, NERDC and AHI revealed that there is need for more coordinated efforts among the government and non-governmental organisations for successful implementation of sexuality education. To this end, the following recommendations are given: (i) All tiers of government should create enabling environment for the acceptance of sexuality education. (ii) Government should promote and sustain capacity building and provide necessary facilities for the teachers. (iii) Encouragement should be given to pupils' and students' active participation and (iv) Government should fashion out policy aimed at promoting a sustained inter-sectoral collaboration among the relevant government and non-governmental organizations.