Sexuality Education and Men’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Practices in a high HIV Prevalence Setting: Does Exposure to Sexuality Education Improve Sexual and Reproductive Health Outcomes in Botswana?

  • Kenabetsho Bainame University of Botswana
  • Serai D Rakgoasi University of Botswana
  • Mpho Keetile University of Botswana
  • Motsholathebe Bowelo University of Botswana
Keywords: HIV, Sexuality education, health, reproductive practices, fertility, partner

Abstract

Exposure to sexuality education is expected to have a positive effect on an individual’s sexual and HIV risk practices and behaviors in later life. This paper uses data from the 2007 Botswana Family Health survey (BFHS-2007) to investigate the association between exposure to sexuality education in schools and men’s sexual and reproductive health practices. The BFHS-2007 sampled 4030 men between ages of 12-29 years, and solicited responses on a wide range of issues, including exposure to sexuality education, sexual and reproductive practices; fertility as well as partner characteristics. About 82% of men were exposed to sexuality education, of which silightly more than 50% have had sexual initiation. A high percentage of respondents who have not received sexuality education would have not used a condom at sexual debut and would have desired a child. The paper concludes that if introduced early, sexuality education improves life skills in sexual initiation, condom use and childbearing

Author Biographies

Kenabetsho Bainame, University of Botswana
Department of Population Studies15
Serai D Rakgoasi, University of Botswana
Department of Population Studies
Mpho Keetile, University of Botswana
Department of Population Studies
Motsholathebe Bowelo, University of Botswana
Department of Population Studies
Published
2016-09-13