Adolescence is an impressionable phase of life, and experiences from these formative years shape an individual’s attitudes and behaviour for a lifetime to come. The critical period of 10-19 years is not only characterised by biological, emotional and psychological transformation but also first-time experiences. It is a period of great potential and even greater vulnerability.
At this age, adolescents are more prone to experimentation and risk-taking, especially with their sexuality. It is important that they are equipped with accurate information on sexual and reproductive health (SRH), have access to health services, and have platforms for having open and honest conversations about sex and sexuality.
Sexuality education plays a critical role in ensuring adolescents are initiated into the concepts of sexuality, sexual and reproductive health, contraception and sexually transmitted diseases (STIs), gender-based violence and sexual abuse. It also emphasises values such as respectful relationships, consent, non-discrimination and gender equality to enable adolescents and children to successfully and safely navigate the transition to adulthood.
A study conducted in Portugal to analyse the impact of comprehensive sexuality education in schools in promoting healthy sexual behaviour showed that students who received such education had a lower risk of venereal diseases, unwanted pregnancies and abortions. The study results also found a positive correlation between receiving sexuality education and protective sexual behaviours, use of contraceptives, knowledge, motivation and skills.
Despite global evidence underscoring the importance of sexuality education for young people, it is still considered a taboo in many parts of the world, including India. Social norms and gender inequalities prevent open conversations around sexual and reproductive health and influence the expression of sexuality and sexual behaviour. As a result, sexuality education is usually imparted under the broader umbrella of “life-skills” education in the country.
Lack of systematic, high quality, age-appropriate sexuality education can make young people more susceptible to harmful sexual behaviours and sexual exploitation. A national study on child abuse commissioned by the Ministry of Women and Children Development showed that 53% of children between the ages of five and 12 have been sexually abused while over half of all cases of child sexual abuse go unreported. This abuse is often perpetrated by parents, legal guardians or close family members.
Increased use of digital technology offers a unique opportunity for young people to access information pertaining to sex, sexuality and sexual health in a safe and anonymous environment. However, this comes with its own risks. A 2018 report highlighted that 37% of Indian parents confirmed that their children had experienced cyberbullying. The shift to online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent school closures means that children and adolescents are spending significantly more time online. A study on the impact of COVID-19 on cyberbullying in India highlighted that almost 80% of older adolescents (aged 17 to 18 years) were cyberbullied during the lockdown period. Mental health is emerging as one of the leading causes of ill-health among the young globally and in India, especially during the pandemic.
While often it is schools where teachers and counsellors impart sexuality education, parents also have a responsibility to educate their children. The most important message that a parent or teacher can convey to children is that s/he should not be embarrassed or fearful of having an open and honest conversation and seeking reliable information from a person they trust the most. Preparing parents and teachers to have ongoing, non-judgmental conversations with children is equally important and we need to develop resources that offer them information that is also culturally appropriate.
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Educating children about their bodies, sexuality, safe and unsafe touch in an age-appropriate way can go a long way in protecting them from abuse. There is an urgent need to clearly and effectively communicate personal body safety rules to children and adolescents so that they develop the capacity to recognise and report sexual abuse. Developing online tools to provide information on sexual and reproductive health, encourage safe online behaviour and protect children and adolescents from both online and offline sexual abuse is the need of the hour. Leveraging entertainment education as a strategy to develop entertaining but verified and informative content can not only dispel myths and misconceptions around adolescent sexual and reproductive health but also go a long way in promoting sustained improvements in sexual health outcomes of adolescents and children.
We, at the Population Foundation of India, made an effort in this direction with SnehAI – a chatbot designed as a digital companion to provide information to adolescents. Embedded on Facebook messenger, SnehaAI has been created for and with inputs from adolescents. It provides evidence-based information and busts myths and misconceptions concerned with contraceptive choices, safe sex and topics pertaining to adolescent sexual and reproductive health. Through a comprehensive campaign, the chatbot seeks to address the lack of availability of accurate information on online child sex abuse and exploitation in India by reaching young users in the age group of 13-19 years.
Access to sexuality education goes beyond information provision and is grounded in the internationally accepted framework of human rights, in particular the right to access appropriate health-related information. While there are many policies in place which acknowledge the need to address the sexual health concerns of adolescents and children, the barriers often outweigh their effective implementation, leaving adolescents ill-equipped to battle the challenges they are confronted with.
Going forward, there is a need to design policies and programmes which go beyond traditional boundaries and place the sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents and children at the centre. Governments, educational institutions and civil society organisations must work together to provide cross-sectoral, collaborative and innovative solutions to ensure the delivery of age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education to every adolescent and child, which is not only their basic right but an imperative for their well-being.
Poonam Muttreja is executive director, Population Foundation of India and Sanghamitra Singh is senior manager, knowledge management and partnerships at Population Foundation of India.