Early Sex Education, A Must
Mr. Harold Alfred P. Marshall, Regional Director,
Commission on Population, Region VI ably presented and discussed the 4th
research paper on “The Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study (YAFS4) in
Western Visayas in a public forum. Authored by Prof. Maria Paz N. Marquez and
Dr. Arnission Andre C. Ortega of the Demographic Research and Development
Foundation, UP Population Institute, it details sexuality of youth (15-24 years
old), source of sex info, teenage fertility and knowledge about HIV/Aids. They
are categorized as non-risky and sexually risky behavior that could influence
their lives either temporarily or permanently.
Western Visayas in 2010 had a total youth population
of 1, 398,701 or 7.8 percent of total country population of 18 million. YAFS
survey had been conducted in 1982, 1984, 2002 and 2013. The funding came from
the Australian Government, UN Population Fund (UNPF), DOH and Philippine
Council for Health, Research and Development (PCHRD). A total of 19,178
respondents from all over Region 6 participated covering broad spectrum of
youth in their age bracket, gender, status, beliefs, and others.
Key findings show that two-thirds of youths were
dependent on their parents exemplified by their being unemployed (8.2%), idle
(11.0%), having live-in partner (12.8%) rather than formal union (5.7%) and
schooling (36.2%). The rest (25.0%) were working on some decent jobs.
A great percentage was wired to electronic gadgets
(75.8%), watch TV regularly (80.7%) and do physical exercises at least 2-3
times a week (54.6%). However, in the daily menu of youths are junk foods from
fast food restaurants and street corners (56.0%) which could inevitably lead to
lifestyle diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Obesity
is gaining ground among teenagers as they become glued to smart phones,
laptops, personal computer and TV.
It is lamentable that 46.1 percent did not have
accurate information about sex. There is an urgent need of sex education
probably starting from Grade V where kids are keenly interested about birds and
the bees.
Those who cannot get them through formal sources took
advantage of cheap DVD’s, internet café and sex magazines. A negligible
percentage though got actual sex experience from a friend or Fubu.
A very significant percentage
(38.0%) had sexual experience on account of being early starters. The mean age
of first sex is 17.6 years from males and 18.1 years for females. Majority of
male youths (22.4%) had sex before age 18 while it is 20.5% in females.
The proportion of youth who have
engaged in sex before age 18 have been increasing from 9.2 percent in 1994 t0
22.4 percent in 2013 among males and from 6.1 percent in 1994 to 20.5 percent
in 2013 among females.
Reckless behavior was shown when
87.6 percent of first premarital sex encounters were unprotected against
unintended pregnancy and or STD’s. As a result, 10.9 percent of females aged
15-19 are already mothers. Youths quit school when they get pregnant just to
avoid being butt of jokes. A related NSO report, Aklan in 2013, shows that 48.0
percent of childbirths were born out of wedlock.
In 2013 only 79.4 percent of
youths have heard of HIV/Aids. Devoid of any accurate information about the
deadly disease, misconception abounds namely: reduced incidence when having sex
with one uninfected partner, using condom, AIDS is curable and surprisingly
majority (71.6%) felt themselves invincible to the disease. Contrary to
widespread belief, AIDS has no cure. All its victims are young sexually active
population. There are three ways to contact the disease namely: blood
transfusion, unsterilized needles and breastfeeding.
There is a tripartite hold on
young adults’ morality bearing namely: church, home and school. Sadly, they no
longer exert powerful force as before since we have abnegated corporal
punishment. Proverbs 13:24 states: “He who spares the rod hates his son but he
who loves him is diligent to discipline him. Simply put, “spare the rod and
spoil the child”.
What we are confronted now is
that of rebellious children unafraid of parents and those in authority. Yes, we
forged goodwill but harvested the wrath of a storm.
A comparative report shows that
Muslim youth in ARMM seldom engage in risky or illicit sexual behavior. This is
because premarital sex, extra marital sex, drugs and binge drinking are taboos
or explicitly forbidden in the Koran and Muslim faith. Christians have their
Bible but ignore or gloss over what it tells about lust, fortification, sodomy,
adultery, and others. Essentially, Muslims practice what they believe and
nurture.
The research on youth sexuality
serves as eye-opener and challenge to policymakers, church leaders, bureaucrats
and academe to come up with a strategy on how best to manage the youth and
their expanding sexual appetite. Guidance, appreciation and love could work
miracles as they become parents later on.
About 90 high school students
from NVC, Regional Science High School, ST. Gabriel High School, ANHSAT, Kalibo
Institute, Aklan Valley High School attended the forum at Nenette’s Garden on
August 27, 2015. Other participants are Municipal Health Officers, Educators
and members of Tri-media. Mr. Arturo P. Teodosio, Jr. of Aklan Provincial
Population and Gender Office coordinated the holding of the forum. /MP
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