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Current Sexual Health Reports

06-05-2023

Trends and Challenges in Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE) Research in Sub-Saharan Africa: a Narrative Review

Authors: Dorcus Achen, Danielle Fernandes, Elizabeth Kemigisha, Godfrey Zari Rukundo, Viola N Nyakato, Gily Coene

Published in: Current Sexual Health Reports

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Abstract

Purpose of the Review

Adolescent sexual and reproductive health remains a major public health challenge in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Comprehensive sex education (CSE) has been hailed as a key strategy to inform young people about sexual health and wellbeing and prevent negative health outcomes. This paper presents an overview of the trends and challenges around sex education in SSA and puts forth key recommendations for future research and policy initiatives.

Recent Findings

This review employed a narrative approach to synthesize evidence on the implementation of comprehensive sex education in SSA. The literature review elicited four key themes: (i) comprehensiveness of CSE curricula, (ii) gender norms in CSE, (iii) prominence of ‘fear’ narratives in CSE implementation, and (iv) CSE delivery methods. Additionally, the authors propose a fifth theme—‘Future-proofing CSE programs’, based on their learnings from implementing sex education interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic. These five themes are presented through a narrative description of current research accompanied by reflections from the authors on the implementation of a parent-focused sex education program in Uganda.

Summary

Based on the insights from the literature review and the authors’ reflections, three recommendations are put forward to guide the design of further CSE initiatives: (i) stakeholder engagement in determining CSE priorities and strategies, (ii) diverse delivery pathways for CSE programs, and (iii) active engagement of both boys and girls to challenge gender norms in CSE.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Footnotes
1
Improving Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health through a Participatory Parent-Child Communication Intervention in Uganda, 2019-2022, funded by VLIRUOS, Promotors: K. Michielsen & V. Nyakato.
 
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Metadata
Title
Trends and Challenges in Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE) Research in Sub-Saharan Africa: a Narrative Review
Authors
Dorcus Achen
Danielle Fernandes
Elizabeth Kemigisha
Godfrey Zari Rukundo
Viola N Nyakato
Gily Coene
Publication date
06-05-2023
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Sexual Health Reports
Print ISSN: 1548-3584
Electronic ISSN: 1548-3592
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-023-00362-1