Marguerite Magy Byamungu1, Benjamin Aganze Marhegane2, and Irène Furaha Kaningu3
1 Gender and Sustainable Development, Institut Supérieur de Développement Rural de Bukavu, Bukavu, RD Congo
2 Regional Planning Department, Institut Supérieur de Développement Rural de Bukavu, Bukavu, RD Congo
3 Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, Université Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, RD Congo
Original language: English
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Abstract
This study examines the perceptions of the population of the city of Bukavu regarding the integration of sexual and reproductive education programs into the school curriculum for adolescents. It is based on the observation that adolescents often grow up in ignorance and face numerous challenges related to sexuality and reproductive health, due to the lack of appropriate information spaces and the limited involvement of some parents and educators in addressing these issues. To this end, 47 semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents, civil society actors, health professionals, and educators working in primary and secondary education in Bukavu. In addition, three focus groups were held with 23 adolescents aged 10 to 19. A document analysis was also carried out, drawing on the activities of civil society organizations engaged in promoting sexual and reproductive education. The findings reveal largely repressive perceptions of sexual and reproductive education in both family and school settings. These forms of resistance, rooted in social, cultural, and religious norms, limit the ability of parents and teachers to support adolescents in their sexual development. However, the young participants expressed the need to move beyond taboos in order to access reliable information that would enable them to better understand their bodies, make informed choices, and prevent the negative consequences of the absence of sexual education. The study suggests a participatory, gender-sensitive, and culturally contextualized educational approach, prioritizing the engagement of adolescents in a process of empowerment that enables them to better understand their bodies, make informed choices, and reduce their vulnerability to sexual and reproductive risks.
Author Keywords: sexual and reproductive education, comprehensive sexuality education, adolescent, social norms, taboos, reproductive health, Bukavu.
