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SCHOOL OF APPLIED HUMAN SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
INDIVIDUAL SYNTHESIS APPLICATION PAPER
SR. AMARACHI CECILIA OKWOR 23-2716
SUBMITTED TO DR. STEVE NDEGWA
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF
HUMAN ANATOMY AND SEXUALITY MCP 645
DATE OF SUBMISSION 30TH NOVERMBER, 2023
COMPREHENSIVE SEXUALITY EDUCATION: A CLARION CALL
1 Introduction Of all topics covered in this course on Human Sexuality and Anatomy class, comprehensive
sexuality education (CSE) stands out for me, and should be highly encouraged as the class
theme. CSE has immense benefits more than the harms. To give back to the community, I
would recommend the initiative of CSE, this should be facilitated by trained personnel.
Because it must be age-appropriate, therefore, the trainers must be able to understand human
development across the life span. Specifically, psychosexual stages by Sigmund Freud,
psychosocial theories by Erik Erikson, cognitive theories of Jean Piaget, and Bandura social
learning theories, generally, the lifespan development (Berger, 2015). Therefore, this
application essay will see the benefits of CSE in the modern society where sexual, confusion,
chaos and challenges have evolved.
Let’s look at what comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is?
World Health Organization (WHO, 2016), defined (holistic) sexuality education as learning
about the cognitive, emotionally, social, interactive and physical aspects of sexuality.
This means that sexuality education starts early in childhood and progresses through
adolescence as well as adulthood. Therefore, CSE gives young people accurate, age-
appropriate information about sexuality and their sexual and reproductive health, which is
critical for their health and survival.
For children and young people, CSE plays a crucial role in the preparation of young people
for a safe, productive, fulfilling life. It aims at supporting and protecting sexual development,
gradually equips and empowers children and young people with information, skills and
positive values to understand and enjoy their sexuality, have safe and fulfilling relationships
and take responsibility for their own and other people’s overall sexual health and well-being.
However, despite clear and compelling evidence for the benefits of high-quality, curriculum-
based CSEs, few children and young people receive preparation for their lives that empowers
2 them to take control and make informed decisions about their sexuality and relationships
freely and responsibly.
In Nigeria, African Population and Health Research Centre {APHRC} (2017), states that
there is a need for comprehensive sexuality education which is necessary for ensuring healthy
sexual and reproductive lives for children and adolescents. Comprehensive sexuality
education should include accurate information on a range of age-appropriate topics; they
should be informed about the consent and their bodily autonomy, anatomy, puberty and
mensuration, conception and pregnancies. This information will foster knowledge and
awareness, attitudes, values and skills to enable adolescents to develop positive views.
In conjunction with, WHO (2020) and Mouli, (2016), I cannot proudly say that, in many parts
of the world, government officials, school principals, teachers, religious institutions and
parents are not convinced of the need for comprehensive sexuality education, and they are
reluctant to provide it because it is ‘believed’ to promote or provoke sexual activity or it
sounds like a taboo. This also can hinder the provision of CSE to children and adolescents in
our society today.
Many people have a role to play in teaching young people about their sexuality and sexual
and reproductive health, whether in formal education, at home or in other informal settings.
Ideally, sound and consistent education on these topics should be provided from multiple
sources. This includes parents and family members but also teachers, who can help ensure
children and young people have access to scientific, accurate information and support them in
building critical skills. In addition, sexuality education can be provided outside of school,
such as through trained social workers and counsellors who work with young people. To
achieve that, a comprehensive program of school-based sexuality education addresses
biological and reproductive knowledge and rational, moral, and ethical values, which allows
them to develop their values and increase their self-esteem, to help them develop their
interpersonal skills, to help them exercise responsibility in their relationships, and to usually
promote their health as an adult. Besides, evidence CSE classes so far have been proven to 3 help reduce misinformation and increase in children and young people’s skills to make
informed decisions about their overall health.
Nevertheless, WHO (2020), states that, no study to date has found evidence that providing
children and young people even adults with sexual and reproductive health information and
education results have increased negative sexual activity. This is always the main excuse and
reason why sexuality education has been hindered among children and young people that I
will discuss later on this paper. At the specific appropriate ages, through sexuality education
at different lifespans, individuals will also learn about contraception (King 2016; Mouli,
2016).
Well-designed and well-delivered sexuality education programs support positive decision-
making around sexual health. Therefore, lack of sexual education translates to metal health
problems due to the challenges young people face with their sexuality and have no one to
help them. evidence shows that young people are more likely to initiate sexual activity later-
and when they do have sex, to practice safe sex – when they are better informed about
sexuality, sexual relations and their rights. Here CSE plays a very important role and gives
space to individuals for self-discovery. With these individuals get to understand their bodies
and sexuality, young people and adult will also get a better sense of self and they would get to
love and appreciate their bodies more (Mouli, 2016; UNFPA, n,d.).
When should sexuality education begins?
Children and young people have the right to be educated about themselves and the world
around them in an age-and developmentally appropriate manner and they need this learning
for their health and well-being.
Therefore, intended to support school-based curricula, the UN’s global guidance indicates
starting CSE at the age of 5 when formal education typically begins. Nevertheless, sexuality
education is a lifelong process, sometimes beginning earlier, at home, with trusted caregivers. 4 Learning is incremental; what is taught at the earlier ages is very crucial and different from
what is taught during puberty, adolescents and adulthood.
Hence, with younger learners, teaching about sexuality does not necessarily mean teaching
about sex. For instance, for young age groups, CSE may help children learn about their
bodies and to recognize their feelings and emotions, while discussing family life and different
types of relationships, decision-making, the basic principles of consent and what to do if
violence, bullying or abuse occur. This type of learning establishes the foundation for healthy
relationships throughout life.
Who should provide CSE?
Many people have a role to play in teaching young people about their sexuality and sexual
and reproductive health. Teaching CSE requires a range of dispositions and skills sets. The
primary educated for CSE include parents and family members, also trained teachers for both
primary and secondary schools, trained professionals, including, psychologists, counsellors,
doctors and other healthcare providers, who are well informed in this matter. The CSE,
Professional learning standards for sex education (PLSSE) should provide details and
material on the types of knowledge and skills sets a person who is charged with teaching CSE
should have. In my view, since CSE is a vital topic for developing human person, I suggest
that a committee of experts need to be formed in different schools, identifying all primary and
secondary schools, train selected teachers, then those trained teachers to be shuffled to do the
training to other schools; not their own school only, but also to a different school where they
are less known.
Why it is important to talk to children and young people about their sexuality and sexual
health
It is because sexuality education helps to equips children and young people with the
knowledge, skills, attitudes and values that help them to protect their health, develop
5 respectful social and sexual relationships, make responsible choices and understand and
protect the rights of others.
Consistent evidence shows that high-quality sexuality education delivers positive health
outcomes, with lifelong impacts. Children and young people are more likely to delay the
onset of sexual activity and when they do have sex, to practice safer sex, when they are better
informed about their sexuality, sexual health and their rights. Sexuality education also helps
them prepare for and manage physical and emotional changes as they grow up, including
during puberty and adolescence, while teaching them about respect, consent and where to go
if they need help. This in turn reduces risks from violence, exploitation and abuse.
Challenges the society has experiences in terms of CSE
Society at large has experienced many challenges which result from knowledge and
information deficit on matters of human sexuality. Program planning-related challenges
included insufficient and piecemeal funding for CSE; lack of coordination of the various
efforts by central and local government, inadequate systems for monitoring and evaluating
teachers and students on CSE which bring about increase in adolescent pregnancies -
unwanted pregnancies, abuse of contraceptive and its misuse. Increase in the rate of
HIV/AIDS and STIs, negative attitude and values, conflictual and weak relationships,
emotional and sexual abuse, and generally lack of information on certain procedures and
processes.
Benefits of CSE to our modern society
CES presents sexuality with a positive approach, emphasizing values such as respect,
inclusion, non-discrimination, equality, empathy, responsibility and reciprocity. ECS
reinforced healthy and positive values about bodies, puberty, relationships, sex and family
life. CSE will eventually eradiate the challenges discussed above, this is because it has
immense benefits, to the specific age group provided. Other benefits of CSE include: 6 Prevention of HIV and STIs
Clear evidence has shown that abstinence-only programs which instruct young people to not
have sex outside of marriage are ineffective in preventing early sexual activity and risk-taking
behaviour, and potentially harmful to young people’s sexual and reproductive health.
Therefore, CSE addresses safer sex, preparing young people after careful decision-making,
for intimate relationships that may include sexual intercourse or other sexual activity.
Evidence shows that such an approach is associated with later onset of sexual activity,
reduced practice of risky behaviours – which also helps reduce the incidence of sexual
transmitted infections, and increased contraception use.
Prevention of unwanted pregnancies
Where teenage pregnancy can get in the way of education and other life opportunities, sex
education can mitigate unintended pregnancy. SCE programs have been proven effective at
delaying first intercourse and increasing the use of condom and contraception among sexually
active youth. Increase their knowledge about their bodies and relationships, decreasing their
risk-taking, and decreasing the frequency of unprotected sex.
Abortion has caused major psychological distress to adolescence, even some single young
adults, and the general population. With CSE, they will learn the various methods of family
planning and birth control (WHO, 2020; Jain & Muralighar, 2011).
Enhance strong relationships
Parents and family members are primary source of information, values formation, care and
support for children and young people. Sexuality education has the most impact when school-
based programs are complemented with the involvement of parents and teachers, training
institutes and youth-friendly services. This is for the legal, living together adults, or those
who intend to live together for a relationship that might result in marriage. Also, during
7 premarital counselling or courtship, the young couple will see the need to visit a sexologist
since in CSE they will have learned about various sexual health professionals. They will also
be introduced to sexual disorders, and some certain ways they can achieve sexual pleasure
and the sexual response cycle among other concepts and variances in male and female
sexuality. UNEPA (n.d.), CSE will enable young people in our society in making critical
choices.
CSE reduces sexual violence
CSE can empower young people and adolescents to know their rights, make healthy choices,
stay in school and flourish. It supports and strengthens efforts by parents, families, healthcare
providers and governments to inform and protect young people and benefits not only those
who receive it but also the wider society.
Also, CSE is a powerful tool that can change harmful gender norms, stereotypes and practices
that stand in the way of gender equality. It can help build young people’s understanding of
love, respect, consent, care and integrity, contributing to healthy families and just societies.
More importantly, CSE can provide children and young people with the tools they need to
identify abuse and coercion, set boundaries and know when and how to seek help. When
children and young people learn about gender inequalities, discrimination and power
dynamics, they are five times more likely to act in a way that successfully prevents
unintended pregnancy, HIV and STIs.
Conclusion
It is high time we ensure that all children and young people, everywhere, have access to the
information and education they need to live their lives to the fullest, safely and with dignity.
CSE builds a clear path to this information and knowledge. Comprehensive sexuality
education therefore, is a clarion call in our society today. So, let’s invest in CSE in the futures
of our children and young people.
8 References
African Population and Health Research Center (2017). Sexuality education in Kenya: New evidence from three counties. Retrieved from: http://hivhealthclearinghouse.unesco.org/sites/default/files/resources/ ESACommitmentFINALAffirmedon7thDecember.pdf
Berger, K. S. (2015). The developing person through the life span (sixth ed.). Worth Publishers.
Jain, R., & Muralidhar, S. (2011). Contraceptive Methods: Needs, Options and Utilization. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of India, 61(6), 626-634. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13224-011-0107-7 King, B. M. (2014). Human sexuality today (7th Ed.). London: Pearson Education Ltd.
Mouli, C. (2016). Why we shouldn’t shy away from sexual education. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7V9S9wdLfc
United Nations Population Fund (n.d.). Comprehensive sexuality education. Retrieved from: https://www.unfpa.org/comprehensive-sexuality-education
World Health Organization (2016). Sexuality education. Retrieved from:
http://www.euro.who.int/en World Health Organization (2020). Human rights: Comprehensive sexuality education. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rL1EZo75uI
