A qualitative inquiry on social work students’ opinions about sex education as part of social work training at the University of Nigeria

Abstract

ABSTRACT Sex education is lacking in Nigeria’s social work education curriculum and course contents because of aversion to sex discourse in Nigeria and other African countries. This may leave social work students underprepared for sexual and reproductive health practice. Our study investigated social work students’ opinions on learning about sex education and the uncharted territories of contemporary sex-related issues such as abortion, sex work, pornography and sex toys as part of social work training. Data were collected from 28 students using semi-structured interviews. The collected data were analyzed thematically with the aid of NVivo 12. Findings revealed that students were interested in general sex education because of its impact on reproductive health. However, irrespective of growing social work interest in contemporary sex-related issues, the country’s prevalent conservative culture led to many students displaying resistance to learning about abortion rights, the protection of sex workers, and the destigmatization of pornography and sex toys. Given the growing importance of these issues, we recommend the inclusion of sex education in the social work curriculum and course contents and (re)training of social work students on current standards of practice in sexual and reproductive health.