An Investigation into the Effectiveness of Comprehensive Sexuality Education in Curbing Teenage Pregnancies among Secondary School Girls: a Case of Five Selected Secondary Schools in Samfya District of Luapula Province

Abstract

Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is a rights-based approach to comprehensive sexuality education which seeks to equip young people with the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values which they need to determine and enjoy their sexuality physically and emotionally while the primary goal of the school-based sexuality education programme is to build on knowledge, skills and behaviours thus enabling young people to make responsible and safe choices as well as prepare them for sexually healthy adulthood. Learners need to be aware of the different kinds of development and the impact they have on their lives such as globalization, arrival of new population groups with different cultural and religious backgrounds, the rapid spread of new media, particularly the internet, internet pornography and mobile phone technology, the emergence of HIV and AIDS and increasing concerns about STIs. Thus, the purpose of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of comprehensive sexuality education on curbing teenage pregnancies among secondary school girls in Samfya district of Luapula Province. The study employed a mixed method paradigm of an embedded method and descriptive survey design that used purposive and simple random sampling to select 5 Head teachers, 5 Guidance and counselling teachers, 20 teachers, 10 parents and 60 learners. Data was obtained from respondents by means of interviews, questionnaires and classroom observation schedules. Frequency, percentages, tables, graphs and pie-charts were used to analyze the quantitative and qualitative data obtained. Data was then analyzed by use of the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) computer package. The findings revealed poor implementation and teaching of comprehensive sexuality education and lack of qualified guidance and counselling teachers in schools.