Sexual Health Education in Primary Schools in Benin: Acquired Tools on Some Components of Teachers in the Municipalities of Malanville and Abomey Calavi

Abstract

The Government of Benin has chosen to strengthen sexual and reproductive health rights by integrating sexual health education into the curricula, starting at the maternal level. To this end, a capacity-building campaign for teachers has been initiated. The aim of this study is to assess the theoretical framework of knowledge for the promotion of sexual health among primary school teachers in Malanville and Abomey-Calavi, Benin. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study with analytical aims that consisted of a prospective collection of data from February 21 to 24, 2022 in Malanville on 270 teachers in the municipality of Malanville and from August 05 to 8, 2021 in Abomey-Calavi on 275 teachers in the municipality of Abomey-Calavi. Individual interviews were conducted with teachers on the basis of questionnaires on knowledge of the human body, psychology and sexual health rights and obligations. Analysis of the data reveals that in Abomey-Calavi, 71. 34% of teachers in pre-test have a mastery of knowledge of the human body compared to 76. 57% in post-test. 53. 41% in pre-test have a master’s degree in psychology compared to 85. 51% in post-test. 67. 14% in pre-test have a mastery of the right and obligation component against 71. 97% in post-test. In Malanville, on average 51. 82% of teachers have a good knowledge of children’s rights and obligations in sexual health at the end of the training. A system of monitoring and evaluation and cyclical reinforcement of trained teachers is needed to ensure lasting impacts.