Importance Of The Sex Education In Cameroon - Research Paper Example

Importance Of The Sex Education In Cameroon The spread of HIV and rise in teen pregnancies are glaring problems in Africa. Nearly three quarters of all suffering from HIV are in Africa (World Health Organization, 2013). The threat can only be countered if knowledge about these problems is introduced at an early stage in the education system. Cameroon, if taken an example out of Africa suffers from these issues at a large scale and has the largest prevalence rate in West Africa (World Health Organization, 2006, p. 22). Rural areas are the most effected and the question arises; should sex education be allowed in Cameroon?

The link between knowledge and an informed stance is very clear and education is the primary basis of grooming children to give them knowledge to take informed decisions. It is very simple to point the culprit of HIV and teen pregnancies; the lack of sex education. Therefore, schools or special projects must introduce programs to increase awareness on these issues at a basic level. Consequences of unprotected sex must be told to children so that they can make an informed stance. They need to make decisions and understand the grave nature of their actions.

The lack of this education has led to the current situation with increasing rates of HIV and teen pregnancies. As of 2010, 14.23 percent teens in the 10 to 19 years age group represent teen pregnancies (Tebeu et al., 2010). The rise in teen pregnancies in particular suggests that teens are involved in sexual experimentation without adequate knowledge of the consequences. Peer pressure is also a major factor to spread the acts of unprotected sex by following a larger group. Teens making uninformed decisions can only lead to the spread of the problem by making others follow in their footsteps.

Students who deal with low self-esteem and confidence are more likely to be influenced by peer pressure (“HIV & AIDS,” 2011). There has to be a barrier to stop or reduce this effect. These peers replace the role of what sex education is supposed to provide. Instead of getting reliable information, teens follow their unguided fellows. The responsibility for the lack of this knowledge falls on the parents and the education system. They are the two main factors involved in grooming teens and imparting necessary knowledge before they form adults.

Furthermore, parents are often hesitant to discuss sex with teens and it is against the culture to discuss sex within family norms (Cormier, 2013).The issue keeps gaining magnitude since it is not addressed at the root cause, which is, sex education at the appropriate stage. Sex in Africa is a taboo and rarely discussed in society, and this ignorance is the main root of all the issues related to HIV, sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancies. Almost 48 percent of students experiment with sex without proper knowledge (National Institute of Health, 1988).

Furthermore, this thinking creates problems for projects meant to improve the situation. Projects must be designed to bring out dire consequences of unprotected sex at a larger scale and attempt to make this education part of their society. Awareness is the ultimate goal of these projects and they must be aimed at raising a generation that can change the social taboo linked with sex. Sex education is the only way to control the glaring issues like HIV, sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancies.

Barring sex education would only increase these issues and the problems will persist. Awareness is the only solution to the problem and its importance must be understood. The current environment and conditions have proven to contribute towards the rise of these issues in Cameroon. It is now time to change the strategy and introduce sex education at basic level.ReferencesCormier, S. (2013).HIV/Sex-ED Day Camp for at Risk Youth in Cameroon.globalgiving.org. Retrieved from http://www.globalgiving.

org/projects/hiv-sex-ed-day-camp-for-at-risk-youth-in-cameroon/National Institute of Health (1988).Sex Education in the Cameroon Reaching Schoolchildren.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12315650#Tebeu, P., Kemfang, J., Sandjong, D., Kongnyuy, E., Halle, G., &Doh, A. (2010, July 27). Geographic Distribution of Childbirth among Adolescents in Cameroon from 2003 to 2005.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2926687/World Health Organization (2006).

Preventing HIV/AIDS in Young People: A Systematic Review of the Evidence from Developing Countries.Geneva: World Health Organization.World Health Organization (2013).HIV/AIDS.who.int. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/trade/glossary/story051/en/(2011, July 24). HIV & AIDS.peerpressurefacts.org. Retrieved from http://peerpressurefacts.org/hiv-and-aids