In our conservative society, many consider talking about sex to be a taboo. [Photo/prochoicetexas.org]
Fears that sex education will make teenagers more likely to experiment have been shown to be unfounded if the increased contraceptive purchase by young girls is anything to go by.
Parents are struggling with the issue of whether to introduce their sexually active children to contraceptives at an early age or face the consequences.
Whereas cultural and traditional perspectives remain opposed to sex education, it should indeed begin at home with parents and caregivers as a primary source of sex education.
At home and within the community, teaching opportunities should be availed during cultural events such as circumcision ceremonies for boys and on TV programmes and advertisements on sexuality such as condom promotions.
Despite these attempts and courage by adolescent girls who wish to prevent pregnancy at an early age, the community still sees them as immoral. We live in a society where sex remains a taboo, let alone teaching it to children.
This has denied most of them the opportunity to be aware of what is happening around them and in their changing body during puberty. Adolescents are human beings and have feelings and science has proven that human beings are sensual beings right from a tender age thus the need for age-appropriate education as they grow up.
Once we deny the children information and products, they will likely create that information, which will be more destructive than when we advise and teach them about sex. Adolescents together with their peers today have many myths and misconceptions about sex.
It is, therefore, important to arrest this situation by encouraging young people to access youth-friendly health centers where they may get access contraceptives as well as counseling.