Sexual education has become an essential part of the lives of a teenager. Despite the conflict between culture, civilization, and morality, it is becoming increasingly important to educate teenagers on sexual life and its implications for their lives (Clayton et al., 2018). In a one-hour session, I will address several issues from reproductive health, sexual developments during adolescence, sexually transmitted diseases, abuse, pregnancy, and childbirth. A detailed objective on the respective issues is discussed below. Each topic will be addressed in ten minutes, with a three-minutes allocation for questions and answers
First, an elaborate discussion on the male and female changes during puberty will help teenagers understand themselves. During adolescence, both boys and girls undergo physical and emotional changes (Haruna et al., 2018). The changes are evident in different spheres, such as the widening of the chest and the deepening of the voice in boys. In girls, there is softening of voice, widening of hips, expansion of breasts, and the onset of menstrual cycles.
The groups should be able to differentiate the parts of the reproductive system in males and females. Although this topic is taught in elementary schools, an emphasis is essential for them to understand themselves. The reproductive system is comprised of different parts, with each playing a distinctively essential role. Comprehending the parts and functions of the system will help them understand other issues like sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, and childbirth.
Although God created sexual intercourse for good purposes, including reproduction, it is responsible for disease transmission. The impact of such diseases is devastating, including extreme pain, loss of immunity, infertility, and eventual death. STIs are passed from one person to another through the exchange of body fluids during sexual intercourse. While some diseases can be transmitted through other means (like the case of HIV/AIDS), sexual conduct is the most common mode of transmission. The disease includes HIV/AIDS, syphilis, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis among others (Rabbitte & Enriquez, 2019). Teenagers should be able to identify sexually transmitted diseases, signs, symptoms, and prevention measures. They should also understand the elaborate precaution and treatment measures that ought to be taken.
Children are highly vulnerable to sexual abuse, and most of them do not know what to do. The children should be able to identify instances or attempts of sexual abuse. The teenagers should also understand the legal provisions protecting them as minors and their role in combating sexual abuse. First, they should acknowledge that sexual acts between a male and female should be out of consent, and not coercion or otherwise (Haruna et al., 2018). They should also know that having a sexual affair before the legally accepted age (18 years in most countries) is a crime punishable by a court of law.
Pregnancy and childbirth are essential points in teaching sexual health to teenagers. Children aged between 14 and 17 years should be taught about their sexual maturity and the consequences of engaging in unprotected sexual intercourse. Girls within this age bracket are capable of conceiving and giving birth to a baby as their ovaries mature and release an ovum every month (menstruation). However, the pregnancy could have devastating consequences on their lives including stigma, discontinuation of education, death during childbirth, and emotional distress. As a result, they should use protective means when having sexual intercourse.
In conclusion, the one-hour session will discuss several points and topics stated earlier. They include physical and emotional development during puberty, general reproductive health, sexually transmitted diseases, sexual abuse, pregnancy, and childbirth. The topics should help teenagers advance their understanding of sexual health, their rights, and the consequences of engaging in sexual intercourse at an early age. The session should also make teenagers great ambassadors of sexual and reproductive health.
References
Clayton, H. B., Brener, N. D., Barrios, L. C., Jayne, P. E., & Everett Jones, S. (2018). Professional development in sexual health education is associated with coverage of sexual health topics. Pedagogy in Health Promotion, 4(2), 115-124. Web.
Haruna, H., Hu, X., Chu, S. K. W., Mellecker, R. R., Gabriel, G., & Ndekao, P. S. (2018). Improving sexual health education programs for adolescent students through game-based learning and gamification.International journal of environmental research and public health, 15(9), 2027. Web.
Rabbitte, M., & Enriquez, M. (2019). The role of policy on sexual health education in schools.The Journal of School Nursing, 35(1), 27-38. Web.