Sexual and reproductive health education is considered a crucial part of any family planning measure, but its delivery varies greatly across countries and cultures.
For Mary Wanjiku Mwangi, a Kenyan youth mentor, sex education came only after she had her first child. “I didn’t know I could become pregnant after having sex for the first time,” she says. “I know that might sound ignorant and crazy, but where I come from it’s not unusual.”
The UN defines comprehensive sexuality education as an “age-appropriate, culturally relevant approach to teaching about sex and relationships by providing scientifically accurate, realistic and non-judgmental information”. It estimates that the majority of the world’s young people do not receive this level of sex education, leaving them vulnerable to sexually transmitted infections, early pregnancy and other issues.
We’d like to hear from you about the level of sex education you received, or are receiving, in school, or – if you are a teacher or the parent of a school-aged child – the type of education that is now being delivered. We’re particularly interested in the education programmes in low- and middle-income countries, as these are often less well documented. Please leave your thoughts in the form below. You can remain anonymous if you wish.
