Knowledge of comprehensive sexuality education (HIV-component) among young girls in Africa: implications for sex education policies and programmes

Abstract

Introduction: The sexual and reproductive health problems such as HIV or AIDS, faced by youths has been largely attributed to insufficiency or lack of necessary information to make informed choices and prevent adverse sexual and reproductive health outcomes. Hence, to reduce these problems, it is expedient that we embrace a potent prevention strategy: Comprehensive Sexuality Education. Therefore, this study seeks to investigate the knowledge of young African girls about comprehensive sexuality education, especially the HIV component. Material and methods: This study made use of secondary data collated by the UNFPA on comprehensive knowledge about HIV among young girls between 15 and 24 years of age in 28 African countries. The data obtained from the UNFPA database was collated and analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2019. Results: Namibia is the only African country surveyed that had more than 50% of young girls between 15 and 24 years of age with comprehensive knowledge about HIV. Chad had the poorest result with only 4% of young girls (15–24 years) with good and comprehensive knowledge of HIV. Four African countries had half or more of young girls between 20 and 24 years of age with comprehensive knowledge of HIV. Only six of the 28 nations surveyed had young girls (15-19 years of age) with very good and intensive knowledge of HIV. Conclusion: There appears to be a poor knowledge of comprehensive sexuality education across African countries. Also, barriers to proper implementation and low effectiveness of CSE at the country level were also presented. These should be appropriately dissected in making youth, sexual, and reproductive health, as well as education policies and programs