Advancing the health of young people, particularly sexual and reproductive health, is a developmental agenda. A critical part of improving their well-being is the social status that is accorded to adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). However, this specific group in many countries including Kenya, encounters health challenges that arise from gender inequalities, lack of empowerment, inaccurate knowledge of sexuality, and poor access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and accurate information. Addressing these already identified knowledge gaps through comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) and improving access to SRH services and appropriate - accurate information, should reduce school attrition from unintended pregnancies and enhance the realization of their full potential.
Comprehensive Sexuality Education is aimed at preventing teenage pregnancy and the spread of HIV/Aids amongst school-going children and the youth by teaching age-appropriate content.
We must prioritize and advance CSE because the evidence of its positive impact is irrefutable. We know that CSE does so much more than decrease risky behaviors. It can be a game-changer because when it is truly gender and youth transformative, it can support young people in acquiring crucial life skills that improve their ability to communicate and navigate risky situations, increase their overall health and well-being, and promote gender-equitable attitudes and norms from a very young age. This is a cornerstone of a gender-equal world we wish to achieve.
When youth do not have the knowledge, access to CSE, or the respect they deserve and cannot make their own choices about their bodies and their futures, including their educational aspirations, we all lose out. We must invest in scaling CSE programs that enable young people to explore gender and sexuality, help them make decisions about their SRHR, and support them to engage as active participants and leaders in their communities.
A critical first step towards improving school-level implementation of CSE is teacher training and support, along with the distribution of materials that are responsive to adolescents’ needs. It is crucial to work with educators to address their own biases—biases that may get in the way of them effectively sharing information with their students
I would like to call on all key stakeholders to re-commit to prioritizing CSE for all young people, especially through policies and legal frameworks that impact their well-being.