Assessing Acceptability Of Parents/Guardians Of Adolescents Towards Introduction Of Sex And Reproductive Health Education In Schools At Kinondoni Municipal In Dar Es Salaam City

Abstract

Objectives: To assess acceptability of parents/guardians of adolescents towards the introduction of sex and reproductive health education in the community and schools.
Methods: A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to get 150 participants for this study. A structured questionnaire was used to interview the sampled participants and was supplemented with guided focus group discussion in Kinondoni Municipality of
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Results: The analysis of the findings shows that there is a mixed feeling on the introduction of sex and reproductive health education in schools. Participants strongly supported that they should talk with their adolescents about sexuality and reproductive health (88.6%) but their culture prohibits them from doing so (76.7%). Also supported that condoms could protect against HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (82%), but strongly opposed the use of condoms to their adolescents because it would encourage promiscuity (78%). When the data were analysed by faith of the religions of the participants, 64% were in favour of introducing sex education and reproductive health, but were opposed to use of condoms to their adolescents. All participants were against vijiweni,
which were recreation centres for the youths because they taught bad manners to their adolescents. The preferred source of information about sex education and reproductive health should be from the parents/guardians (86%), religious leaders (70%),
media (62%), health workers (61%) and school teachers (59%). Conclusion: All in all the will of introduction of sex education and reproductive health in the community is there but the approach need to be worked out carefully by taking into account of the cultural and religious factors. Parents/guardians, religious leaders and traditional charismatic leaders should take part in designing the programme and even being involved in teaching it. The other option is to lump together sex education and reproductive health education in science especially in biology which is already in place in Tanzania education programmes.

Keywords: Tanzania, Sex education, Reproductive health, Parents/guardians, Initiation to adulthood

East African Journal of Public Health Vol. 5 (1) 2008 pp. 26-31