Sexual Matters Research Articles

‘Of Course Muslims Can Be Gay’: Sexuality and Religion in Adiba Jaigirdar’s Young Adult Fiction

Today, Irish Young Adult (YA) literature examines a wide variety of youth experiences. However, an aspect that it is still slowly beginning to address is Ireland’s multiculturalism. While it is possible to find racialised characters or characters who belong to marginalised ethnic minorities in some Irish YA texts, white characters still predominate. Thus, it is significant to highlight the work of those authors who offer a depiction of today’s multicultural Ireland and a window into the experiences of characters that are usually found outside the mainstream, as is the case for Adiba Jaigirdar. Her YA novels The Henna Wars (2020) and Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating (2021) depict experiences and challenges that many Muslim girls may encounter in contemporary Ireland. This essay aims to analyse, in particular, how both novels explore matters of sexuality and religion together with race and ethnicity by focusing on how these intersecting elements of identity are negotiated by the characters of Nishat and Hani, two queer Muslim girls. This intersectional analysis will focus on how sexuality and religion working simultaneously both shape, and are influenced by, the girls’ experiences in a multicultural yet mainly white and Catholic Ireland.

Cultural taboos and low sexual and reproductive health literacy among university students in Magway city, Myanmar

University students in Myanmar experience a high prevalence of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) problems including unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. These are compounded by pervasive cultural taboos surrounding sex and sexuality. Sexual and reproductive health literacy is crucial to addressing these problems. Four focus group discussions with 33 university students revealed how cultural taboos act as barriers across five SRH literacy subdomains: accessing, comprehending, criticising and applying SRH information, and communicating with healthcare providers. Students primarily relied on online health information rather than face-to-face discussions. Many students considered SRH information to be ‘dirty’ and experienced feelings of shame, guilt and fear of being blamed or disrespected while seeking healthcare. They therefore hesitated to visit healthcare providers and sought SRH services only in urgent medical situations. Additionally, all SRH literacy subdomains were influenced by cultural taboos surrounding sex: societal denial towards youth premarital sex, and the perception of sexual matters as embarrassing and inappropriate. Advocacy is needed to promote positive societal attitudes towards sexual matters and youth premarital sex, signalling the value of culturally tailored digital SRH literacy interventions using vernacular language. Healthcare providers should offer non-judgemental youth-centred services to promote SRH literacy among students.

The Ecstasy of Desire: Some Notes on Asceticism and the Church of England's Living in Love and Faith

Recently the General Synod of the Church of England agreed to approve liturgical resources— Prayers of Love and Faith—for blessing same-sex couples. This decision was the result of a long process of discernment concerning matters of sexuality and identity called Living in Love and Faith. This article aims to critique some of the background ethical and theological assumptions at work in the Living in Love and Faith resources, specifically the way the role of asceticism is conceived in them. I argue that while there are promising references to formation of desire through discipline and restraint in the LLF resources, their ascetic intuitions remain limited to world-related goods, neglecting the significance of bodily practices for God-related goods and for our final flourishing. Paying attention to the theological dimensions of Christian ascetic practice will also reveal the importance of concrete limitations for ascetic formation of desire. I argue that such limits are required for unravelling the transcendent capacities of human desire. At the end of the article, I make some suggestions as to how the revitalisation of not just ethical but theological ascetic praxis can be helpful in navigating the Church of England's current disagreement with respect to same-sex unions.

Sex talks-experiences with and barriers to communication about sexuality with healthcare staff among patients with anxiety disorder in Denmark.

Previous research among diverse patient populations suggests that healthcare staff routinely do not talk about sexuality with their patients even when such talks are highly indicated and relevant. In this study we sought to investigate how patients at outpatient anxiety clinics in Denmark experience sexual communication with healthcare staff and what barriers they encounter in this connection. We employed a survey design from January 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019. In collaboration with 11 outpatient anxiety clinics in Denmark, patients with a primary diagnosis of panic disorder, social phobia, generalized anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder were invited to participate in the study. The final sample included 272 patients. Survey questions were related to sociodemographic characteristics, sexual activity and dysfunctions, pharmacological treatment adherence, anxiety and depression symptoms, and experience with and barriers to sexual communication. For each participant, clinicians at the clinics provided the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, diagnostic codes, medications, and dosage. Study inclusion criteria were not having an organic disorder that may cause anxiety, not having a previous diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder or schizophrenia, and the ability to speak and read Danish. Outcomes included patients' experiences with and barriers to sexual communication with healthcare staff. In total, 61% of the patients in this sample group found it relevant to talk to healthcare staff about sexuality but only 28% of the study patients had done so, of whom 83% reported this communication to be a positive experience. The most frequently reported patient barriers to communication with healthcare professionals regarding sexual concerns were a belief that if sexual matters were relevant, the healthcare staff would bring it up (94%), fear of transgressing their own boundaries (94%), embarrassment (92%), and lack of knowledge as to how to start a conversation about sex (91%). The study results indicated a need for healthcare staff to routinely map out and address sexual matters in their clinical work with anxiety patients while bearing in mind the common patient barriers for this topic. This study included a large clinical outpatient sample of anxiety patients and an extensive survey. However, the results may not be generalizable across all anxiety patients or patients in general. The results of this study strongly indicate that a majority of anxiety patients find it both relevant and beneficial to discuss sexual matters with healthcare staff in connection with their anxiety treatment, and therefore healthcare staff should be educated and equipped to routinely address these matters while bearing in mind the most common patient barriers for conversations about sexuality.

Burden, consequences and associate factors of childhood maltreatment in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

IntroductionChild maltreatment is any type of abuse or child negligence which results the concrete or prospective hurt for those under age of eighteen. It is a global issue which severely endangered children's physical, emotional, behavioral, developmental and mental well-being for immediate and later in life. Although, its magnitude and devastating burden are difficult to comprehend, much remains to be done to know its prevalence and comprehensive impact. This meta-analysis and comprehensive review will provide important light on the burden, consequences, and contributing factors for child maltreatment. MethodsThis meta-analysis and comprehensive review was coded at Prospero number of CRD42024503799. Universal online databanks including PubMed, Cochrane, Google, Google Scholar, SCOPUS, and Web of Science and Global Health were used to search for articles. Microsoft Excel was used for data extraction, and STATA17 was used to analyze this systematic review and meta-analysis. A random effect model exploration was employed when heterogeneity among included studies were evidenced. ResultsThe pooled prevalence of childhood maltreatment was 57.0 % (95 % CI = 32.00, 83.00). Included studies revealed that childhood maltreatment has multiple child health-related consequences. Being female (AOR = 2.94, 95 % CI: 1.48, 4.41), being young (AOR = 1.22, 95%CI: 1.09, 3.35), paternal illiteracy (AOR = 2.16, 95%CI: 1.012, 3.302) and have an open family discussion about sexual matters (AOR = 0.381 (95%CI: 0.121, 0.884) were considerably associated with child maltreatment. ConclusionThis finding publicized that the burden and multiple consequences of childhood maltreatment need much attention. Childhood maltreatment has both immediate and life time consequences for children later in life. Being female, being young, having illiterate fathers, and open family discussion about sexual matters were associated factors of child maltreatment.

Child welfare workers’ understanding of young people’s sexual health when conducting assessments due to substance use problems

Young people with substance use problems often have an early sexual debut, an increased risk of sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies, and a high risk of experiencing sexual violence. At the same time, according to the national action plan on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), the social services in Sweden have an important role in addressing sexual health in various contexts, such as in child welfare investigations. Therefore, this study has investigated how Swedish child welfare workers understand and relate to sexual health issues in child welfare investigations regarding young people with substance use problems. Following a strategic sampling, 15 child welfare workers were interviewed. The interviews were examined with a thematic content analysis with results showing that sexual health issues represented an area where knowledge was lacking. This was largely connected to that the child welfare workers had not been taught about SRHR in their bachelor’s degree nor in their continued education within the child welfare system. As a result of this, they often developed their own individual, professional approach for assessing sexual health matters, guided by the principle of “not investigating more than necessary”. When addressing sexual health in their assessment work, the child welfare workers primarily focused on risk, vulnerability and exposure. Not assessing young peoples’ sexual health was seen as protecting the right to confidentiality and privacy. In summary, this meant that young people with a problematic substance use were seldom given opportunities to talk about their sexual health, and especially not about positive sexual experiences related to their substance use.

Understanding nurses' perceptions of sexual health and function in people requiring haemodialysis.

Sexual dysfunction is common for adults receiving chronic haemodialysis; however, renal nurses seldom discuss this topic with patients. This study aimed to identify renal nurses' attitudes towards providing sexual healthcare and to determine their confidence in discussing sexual dysfunction with adults who are receiving haemodialysis. An online cross-sectional study. Renal nurses across Australia and New Zealand (n = 65) who were members of the Renal Society of Australasia provided direct care to adults receiving haemodialysis. Two questionnaires measuring (1) the frequency of sexual health discussions, levels of knowledge and competence, barriers to discussing sexual dysfunction and views on accountability (Van Ek survey) and (2) communication, practical knowledge, and attitude (sexual health educator for professionals scale) were used. Demographic characteristics were also collected. Most participants were females (60%) with postgraduate qualifications (61.4%). The average nephrology nursing experience was 13.10 ± 9.14 years. Most renal nurses identified as having positive attitudes (77.2%) about providing sexual healthcare and were confident in communicating with patients about sexual concerns (42.9%), although many nurses (64.35%) rarely did so. Less than one-half (48.6%) indicated feeling competent to discuss sexual dysfunction, and less than one-third (30%) had sufficient knowledge about sexual dysfunction. Barriers were lack of practical training (74.2%)and insufficient time (57.1%). Younger nurses (≤45 years old) and male nurses were significantly more confident in discussing sexual health matters. Overall, renal nurses had positive attitudes towards discussing sexual health concerns with patientshoweverthey rarely did so.

Individual and relational dynamics perceived to influence the sexual behaviour of adolescents in Ethiopia: a qualitative study.

There are 1.2 billion adolescents in the world today, more than ever before, making up 16% of the world's population and nearly one-fourth of the total population in Sub-Saharan Africa. Adolescents are facing life-threatening health challenges attributed to sexual and reproductive health issues such as unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and sexually transmitted infections, including the human immunodeficiency virus, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The aim of this research is to explore the individual and relational levels of factors that drive adolescents to engage in risky sexual behaviour. A qualitative phenomenological study design was used from February to June 2020. Adolescents and health professionals were selected purposefully. A total of 12 individual in-depth interviews, five focus group discussions with adolescents, and eight key informant interviews with health professionals were conducted using a semi-structured guide. Data analysis was performed using thematic analysis with ATLAS Ti version 7 software. Credibility, dependability, transferability, and confirmability were used to ensure the trustworthiness of the data. In this study, two themes were identified; individual level factors such as sexual desire and emotion driven sex, limited knowledge of sexual and reproductive health, and a permissive attitude towards sexual activities drive adolescents to engage in risky sexual behaviour; and relational level factors such as, limited family support and involvement, negative peer pressure and influence, male partner dominance during the partnership, and pressuring females to engage in sexual intercourse were perceived factors influencing adolescents to engage in risky sexual behaviour. Various individual-level and relational-level factors are influencing adolescents to engage in risky sexual behaviour. Socially and culturally acceptable, comprehensive sexual education should be provided for in-school and out-school adolescents to enhance their knowledge, attitude, and skill about sexual and reproductive health. Interventions at the peer and partner level should be considered to enhance the life skills that enable them to resist pressure from peers and their partners. Child-parent communication on sexual and reproductive health matters should be promoted.

Barriers to the Father-adolescent Sexual Communication: A Cross-sectional Study

Background and Purpose: The majority of research on parent-adolescent sexual communication has predominantly focused on mothers, leaving fathers’ involvement in this matter largely unexplored. Therefore, this study seeks to identify the obstacles hindering sexual communication between fathers and adolescents. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 196 fathers of adolescents aged 15 to 19 from August 2020 to January 2021 in northern Iran. A socio-demographic medical information form, a culturally validated parent-adolescent sexual communication barriers questionnaire, and the sexual communication topics between parents and adolescents were used to gather information. A logistic regression test was administered using SPSS software, version 18 to determine the barriers to sexual communication. Results: The mean age was 47.38±5.04 for fathers, 16.79±1.46 for boys, and 17.00±1.30 for girls. The prevalence of father-girl sexual communication (51.1%) was lower than that of father-boy sexual communication (55.8%). The most frequent barriers to fathers’ sexual communication with both genders were the adolescent’s embarrassment and the possibility of provoking their curiosity about sex. The logistic regressions showed that adolescents’ embarrassment and not trusting them and approving of them having sex were barriers to father-adolescent sexual communication (P<0.001). Conversely, adolescents asking more private questions were positive predictors of father-adolescent sexual conversation (P<0.001). Conclusion: The findings underscore the prevalence of adolescent embarrassment and concerns about sparking curiosity about sex as key obstacles to such communication. Additionally, the results highlight the importance of adolescents feeling trusted and supported by their fathers in discussing sexual topics. These insights emphasize the need for targeted interventions to address these barriers and promote healthier, more open communication between fathers and adolescents regarding sexual matters.

Examining Asian Parents' Perspectives and Challenges in Sexual and Reproductive Health Education with Implications for Public Health: A Systematic Review.

In Asian cultures, discussing sexual matters with adolescents is often considered taboo and culturally or religiously sensitive. Due to a lack of knowledge and skills, many parents find approaching such a topic with their children challenging, fearing that raising such an issue will bring concerns about encouraging promiscuity. This systematic review aims to assess evidence on Asian parents' perspectives and practices regarding delivering sexuality information to adolescents. It also seeks to identify the factors that facilitate or hinder the effective delivery of such knowledge. The electronic databases EBSCO-CINAHL, Scopus, and Science Direct were searched using keywords and synonyms such as "sexuality information," "sexuality education," "parent-child," "communication," and "Asian." The studies' quality was assessed using the Mixed-Method Assessment Tool. A comprehensive database search identified 1392 potentially relevant literature sources for this review. Following the application of inclusion criteria, a final set of 16 eligible full-text research articles was selected for inclusion in the review. In most quantitative literature, parents were found to have a good level of knowledge, whereas most qualitative studies reported the opposite, indicating inadequate knowledge. Seven studies highlighted the cultural denial of delivering regarding sexuality, whereas six studies emphasized the need for parental support. Negative experiences, including discomfort, shyness, embarrassment, fear of intimidation, and fearful encounters, were reported in the literature. In conclusion, this review aims to pinpoint gaps and challenges in the delivery of sexuality education among Asian parents, offering valuable insights for public health practitioners and policymakers.

Factors Affecting the Expected Outcomes of Implementing Comprehensive Sexuality Education on Learners in Rural Public Secondary Schools of Muchinga Province of Zambia

The study was focused on the factors affecting the expected outcomes of implementing Comprehensive Sexuality Education in rural public secondary schools of Muchinga province of Zambia. The main objectives was to identify factors that affects the implementation of Comprehensive Sexuality Education. The research employed Qualitative method. It used interpretivism paradigm. It employed descriptive design which described the state of affairs of Comprehensive Sexuality Education as it existed at the time when the research was conducted. The study sample comprised of headteachers, teachers, parents and learners with the total number of 384. It employed three instruments namely; semi structured interviews for headteachers, teachers, parents and learners, the close ended questionnaires administered on teachers, parents and learners whereas observation checklist was on used to teachers and learners. The study identified various factors for implementing Comprehensive Sexuality Education such as; learners having difficulties in sharing experiences to friends who have already been exposed to unhealthy and unsafe sexual experiences, inaccurate information on sexuality matters found on social media, difficulty in understanding some sexuality terms in English, being uncomfortable when learning about private parts which sounds like insults, learners fail to abstain from sexual intercourse after learning instead they opted to experiment what they were learning, inappropriate dress code among some female learners and teachers, inappropriate cultural and traditional practices, such as elopement. Parents who have difficulties in understanding why their children are learning Comprehensive Sexuality Education should be counselled and sensitized by school leaders. It is highly recommended that, the government should develop a deliberate policy of teaching Comprehensive Sexuality Education as a standalone subject and intensify the training of teachers in Comprehensive Sexuality Education using cascading model during in-service and pre-service trainings. The future recommendation from this study was that, A research on exploring the factors affecting the implementation of Comprehensive Sexuality Education and its expected outcomes in selected rural public secondary schools of Muchinga province of Zambia would be worthwise in order to establish the expected outcomes on learners. The same research should be conducted in other rural settings of Muchinga Province.

(138) ARE WE THERE YET? ASSESSING OUR CURRENT STATE OF SEX MED EDUCATION

Abstract Introduction Sexual concerns are prevalent, but studies have demonstrated that patients often feel most comfortable if the clinician initiates the conversation. Many patients are hesitant to discuss sexual concerns with their providers for a variety of reasons including fear of judgment, lack of clinician knowledge, and concerns that these issues are abnormal or unusual. Clinician education plays an important role in helping to facilitate these difficult conversations. However, there has never been a broad assessment of education across medical training programs, while the most recent assessment of MD training programs occurred approximately a decade ago. Objective We set out to create and administer a survey to assess sexual medicine training across most major medical disciplines where sexual health matters may be discussed, including nurse practitioner, midwifery, physician, and physician assistant training. Methods A subcommittee of the ISSWSH Advocacy Committee was formed with members representing the medical disciplines to be surveyed. A survey was developed to gather data on sexual medicine education offered at nursing, midwifery, physician, and physician assistant training programs. The survey included a series of questions regarding content taught during these programs (checklists, open ended responses). The survey was approved by the Wake Forest IRB and distributed using RedCap to various institutions from the above disciplines throughout the United States. Results We received a total of 33 complete responses. 88.5% of respondents stated they used traditional lecture as their teaching method, whilst only 11.5% used simulation, and 7.7% used actual mechanical models. The majority of programs that responded spent 3-5 hours total dedicated to human sexuality and sexual function education. Interestingly, respondents noted that faculty involved in sexual medicine education were mostly OB/GYN in background (63%), followed by family medicine (18.5%) and urology (18.5%). While not all respondents indicated that their students were assessed on their knowledge after teaching, it was noted that the majority of programs that did respond indicated that examination was the most common mode of assessment. Only 33% of institutions noted having a regional or nationally recognized expert in the field. Conclusion It is essential that the accrediting bodies for medical programs incorporate the input of international societies such as ISSWSH (in collaboration with other sexual medicine organizations) to formulate an official statement and recommendations for a standardized curriculum for sexual medicine.

School prevention of non-consensual sexting among middle adolescents: Does sexual preoccupation awareness matter?

Although non-consensual sexting seems to concern not only adults but also middle adolescent students, with detrimental consequences on their well-being, the related research-based effective school prevention programs are almost absent. Furthermore, there is an unanswered research question as to whether sex-related issues, such as sexual preoccupation, matters in adolescents’ non-consensual sexting and its prevention. The present study investigated the effectiveness of a school-based intervention against non-consensual sexting among middle adolescents, based on the European funded program TABBY (Threat Assessment of Bullying Behavior in Youth). Furthermore, the predictive role of sexual preoccupation was examined. Overall, 280 Greek students from randomly selected junior high school responded to self-report scales on non-consensual sexting and sexual preoccupation. Based on an experimental longitudinal research design, only the experimental (N = 131), but not the control group of students (N = 149), participated in the intervention. To test the effectiveness of the intervention, both student groups completed the scales before (1st phase), immediately after (2nd phase), and six months after the intervention (3rd phase), which was implemented by trained teachers. The results showed both, the short-term and long-term effectiveness of the intervention. Also, the study highlighted the significant contribution of sexual preoccupation awareness in reducing non-consensual sexting, especially immediately after and six months after the intervention. The study implies the necessity to adapt existed prevention programs to the specific parameters of non-consensual sexting, integrating at the same time sexual preoccupation awareness activities to better address this issue.

Communicating male sexual dysfunction: The medicalization and psychologization of sexual experiences in Chinese online medical consultations

Previous research shows that men who experience erectile or sexual dysfunction may feel uncomfortable discussing their sexual experiences in face-to-face clinical encounters. Part of the reason is the stigma and embarrassment associated with discussing private sexual matters. This study examines how e-patients, or more precisely advice-seekers, and doctors communicate about sexual dysfunction in online medical consultations (OMCs). We conducted a Theme-Oriented Discourse Analysis of relevant OMCs on CH Doctor, a Chinese medical consultation website, to understand how individuals with perceived sexual dysfunction articulate their conditions and how doctors on the platform respond and provide recommendations to these individuals. Our analysis reveals that OMCs afford advice-seekers a place to openly discuss their sexual health issues and gain empowerment from doctors who assist in mitigating the associated social stigma. Upon detailed discourse analysis, however, we find that individuals seeking advice often interpret their sexual experiences as symptoms of illness that requires medical intervention. In response, doctors tend to validate these advice-seekers’ preliminary self-diagnoses by treating their conditions as medical issues and characterizing them as psychosocial problems caused by stress and anxiety. Aligning with a critical sociological perspective that views sexual dysfunction as socially constructed problems referenced against dominant norms of sexual functioning, we argue that the medicalization and psychologization of certain sexual behaviors by doctors and advice-seekers discursively reinforce and legitimize essentialist views of hetero-coital sexual interaction. Such views reify penile-vaginal intercourse and ejaculation as the only standard, successful, and desirable form of sexual activity. This may further induce fear and anxiety among adult men whose sexual behaviors do not realistically align with these norms.

Between Sexism and Expressions of Resistance over the Body: A Study of Poster Texts in Demonstrations in 2022

In April and September 2022, students in various regions in Indonesia held demonstrations. These activities demanded and protested against the government's discourse on the policy of 3 presidential terms. Meanwhile, in September, there was an action against the increase in fuel prices. Like the previous demonstrations, the action used posters as a medium of public communication. What was interesting about the posters was the content of the demonstration. The content of the posters tended to be more related to the body and sexual matters. The content used more metaphors of everyday life related to sexual activity. This spread massively in many social media. Through Theo Van Leeuwen's critical discourse analysis method, this research discusses several sexist poster texts and analyzes the social context behind the phenomenon. There are two assumptions that this paper tries to address. First, the poster content that appears is sexist content that demeans women. The second is that it is part of an expression of women's resistance to bodily restraint. Both arguments above will be reviewed in this paper. This research found that there was sexist content in posters that used direct or indirect expressions of sexism. The sexist expressions in the posters also show misogynistic practices because posters that denigrate women come from women. Findings also show that the sexist language used leads to pornography.Keywords: demonstration, poster, sexism, women, cda

From Police Power to Police Practice

Understanding the everyday manifestations of systemic racism, cisheteropatriarchy, and unequal justice for oppressed women and femmes necessitates meaningful engagement with critical law enforcement studies—the study of why and how policing and punishment takes place in carceral societies. Anne Gray Fischer’s The Streets Belong to Us spells out why sexual policing matters for the history of political development, capitalist growth, and socioeconomic inequality in U.S. cities, like Boston, Atlanta, and Los Angeles. Ultimately, as Fischer’s work affirms, urban law enforcement forces have routinely greased the wheels of punitive governance and state violence under the auspices of maintaining control over a contested and shifting social order.

Mentorship for young gay men in Hong Kong: A pilot mixed-methods randomized controlled trial.

This study examined whether mentorship could promote young gay men's identities and well-being, and whether a mentor's sexual orientation matters. A randomized control trial compared outcomes across three conditions: Arm A (a mentee matched with a sexual minority mentor), Arm B (a mentee matched with a heterosexual mentor), and a control arm receiving psychoeducation only. A community sample of 60 mentees aged 18-25 years was randomly allocated to the three arms and completed questionnaires at baseline, 3 months into the intervention, and at the end of the 6-month program. Fifteen mentees recounted their mentoring experiences through in-depth interviews. Linear mixed effects models showed that for both intervention and control conditions, internalized homonegativity declined while resilience, loneliness, and body acceptance improved over time. No time and group interactions were found. Meanwhile, a mentor's sexual orientation did not drive differential quality and outcomes of mentorship. Interviewees cited various benefits of mentorship, including providing companionship, enriching connection with lesbian, gay, bisexual (LGB) communities, and adding knowledge and perspectives of LGB lives and identities. Although quantitative data did not support any exclusive benefits of mentorship, most mentees recognized mentorship as a vital source of affirmation and companionship. Implications for research and mentoring programs are discussed.

Parent-Child Sexual Communication: Preventing Sexual Violence

Through sexual communication, parents can play an important role as primary educators for their child's sexual health. Unfortunately, sexual matters are rarely discussed in family communication, and parents tend to avoid them. This community service activity aims to determine the percentage of parents who have engaged in sexual communication, and to improve sexual education skills and knowledge for carrying out sexual communication through psychoeducational activities. Participants in this program were 78 parents of students in grades 4–6 at Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Sunan Kalijogo Malang. The survey findings from this activity revealed that students' parents lack sufficient information about sexual education and skills in carrying out sexual conversation with their children. Reflection, sharing, role acting, and lectures are among the psychoeducational activities done in an effort to avoid sexual violence against children. These activities can expand knowledge and provide students' parents with skills in sexual communication.

Comprehensive horizons: examining Japan’s national and regional sexuality education curricula

ABSTRACT Comprehensive Sexuality Education has been acknowledged globally for its role in advancing young people’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. Yet, notable variation exists in definitions and interpretations of what comprehensive means, exposing tensions between international and local values and agendas. This research focused on the situation in Japan, which is largely perceived as ‘lagging behind’ international standards in terms of its sexuality education programming. We aimed to explore the degree of comprehensiveness and variation within Japan’s national and regional sexuality education curricula, using UNESCO’s International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education as a benchmark. Quantitative and qualitative curriculum analysis was conducted using an Excel tool. Findings revealed greater comprehensiveness and regional diversity than previously reported, although significant gaps persist regarding more explicit sexual subject matter and critical gender perspectives. These results illustrated promising progress towards comprehensiveness, even in the conservative educational environment of Japan. Nonetheless, in aspects such as rights, Japanese educational discourse differs substantially from that of the wider international community, contributing to the perception that the country’s sexuality education programme lacks comprehensiveness. This calls for greater cultural responsivity within the Comprehensive Sexuality Education agenda, albeit without compromising its core values and safeguarding of young people’s sexual health and rights.

Deconstructing Masculinity in Gender Equality Campaigns (Study of Participation of Men with Family Planning in DRPPA Penyamun Pemali Bangka)

The current family planning (KB) program approach not only aims to control the population and reduce fertility levels, but also to ensure the fulfillment of reproductive rights. Men's participation in this program is considered important because they are women's partners in matters of reproduction and sexuality, so responsibility must be shared equally between men and women. This research aims to identify how the local government carries out deconstruction in the gender equality campaign in the Penyamun DRPPA, Pemali District, Bangka Regency, as well as to understand community perceptions of men's participation in family planning programs. This research method is a descriptive qualitative study, using data collection through FGD, in-depth interviews, observation and documentation studies. The research results show that the campaign for men's participation in family planning is carried out through advocacy, communication, information and education (KIE), but it is still more aimed at women. Even though there have been deconstruction efforts from the central to the village level, men's participation in family planning has still not reached an adequate level. The public's perception of men's participation in family planning in Penyamun Village is still limited to the level of knowledge, because the campaign carried out only brings changes in knowledge. Factors such as patriarchal culture, religion, and shame play a role in maintaining the role of family planning among women