Today marks the beginning of my on and off writing journey. I know I have always wanted to make a comeback but have been very lazy. However, this time, I am very serious about it. I believe that I have made the step that has helped me move from " wow that is a nice story"to " I have to write and post this on my blog!".
I love to write and therefore, I see no reason why I shouldn't! Let me start by posting the first article I wrote after my long drought. An article on a subject that I am passionate about- Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health. It sounds like a mouthful...well it is :) It is a topic with a multi dimensions but in simple English, it aims at ensuring that young people are given relevant information, skills and equipment that can help them make informed decisions and take appropriate actions towards their reproductive and sexual health.
Well here is the article as published in two Ugandan newspapers ; The New Vision of July 24th 2013 and The Daily Monitor of July 26th 2013:
Let's face it, young people need condoms
Educating young
people about condoms is one of the hottest and most controversial
debates in Uganda. People opposed to it claim that young people are
innocent and, therefore, once given information about condoms will be
encouraged to initiate sex and eventually become immoral.
The opponents always advance two options for young people; either
abstain from sex or if married be faithful to their sexual partner.
However, while there is no doubt that these options offer effective
protection from pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, they do
not cater for a certain percentage of young people. Those who are
sexually active.
Much as the ideal would be for every young unmarried person to abstain,
the 2011 Uganda Demographic Health Survey (UDHS) paints a different picture.
The survey reveals that by the age of 18, six out of 10 women and five
out of 10 men are sexually active. Currently, one in four girls aged 10
to 19 years are either pregnant or have given birth.
The New Vision newspaper of July 17, 2013 carried a story
about an increase of sexually transmitted diseases - gonorrhoea and
Syphilis especially among teenage girls. Sexually transmitted infections
can increase the risk of sexual transmission of HIV which currently is
at three percent for women and less than one percent for men aged 12- 19
years.
Young people’s sexual actions have well documented consequences for both
the individual and the country’s major health indicators. According to
the United Nations Population Fund, complications from pregnancy and
child birth are the leading cause of death among girls aged 15 to 19.
Of the 7,000 women who die due to pregnancy related conditions in Uganda
each year, 55% are adolescents.
Therefore, much as we would like to follow the ideal situations as
promoted by our cultural, religious and community values and beliefs, we
need to be realistic. Not all young people actually abstain from sex.
A 2008 report by Guttmacher Institute on the sexual and reproductive
health needs of young people in Uganda revealed that though they desire
to wait till marriage, most times sex is not planned for. When that
happens, condoms should be the solution.
Condoms are the only method that provides dual protection from
unintended pregnancies and from sexually transmitted infections
including HIV/AIDS.
The idea to educate children about using condoms is increasingly taking
root in Uganda. The 2011 UDHS shows that more than six in 10 adults in
Uganda agree that children age 12-14 should be taught about using
condoms to avoid contracting HIV/AIDS.
Other studies conducted in several countries have delinked condom
education from promoting sexual behaviour. Instead, it empowers the
young person to delay initiation of sexual intercourse, decreases the
frequency of sexual intercourse and number of sexual partners.
While many young people already know where to access the condoms, they
don’t know how to correctly use the condoms. Condom education in all
places frequented by young people whether public or private should be
done to empower young people with the skills to demand for safer sex
practices should the situation arise.
In addition, the service providers in both public and private service
outlets should be trained to be more welcoming and accessible to young
people.
While addressing the various underlying factors that push adolescents to
initiate sex, we should also cater for those who are already in the
sexually active boat. Burying our heads in the sand will not make the
situation go away.
If the young people are not able to abstain from sex, they should at
least have a good plan B of Condoms to protect them from two big
reproductive health burdens that this country is grappling with;
Sexually Transmitted Infections and unintended pregnancies.
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