A Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Ibadan (UI) College of Medicine, Ayodele Arowojolu, has stressed the need for governments, parents, and educators to provide comprehensive sexual education to adolescents.
Arowojolu, who made the call at the seventh Aina Omololu-Mulele Endowment lecture, said adolescents face numerous challenges, including the absence of sexual education and guidance, leading to rising cases of teenage pregnancy, unsafe abortions, drug abuse, sexual violence, and school dropouts. He noted that misinformation from peers and social media further exacerbates the situation.
The professor highlighted the importance of addressing substance use among adolescents, which contributes to risky sexual behaviour, poor academic performance, and mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety. Arowojolu emphasised that a multi-sectoral approach involving policymakers, educators, parents, healthcare providers, and community leaders is necessary to address these challenges.
Arowojolu blamed widespread myths and the reluctance of parents and schools to provide proper education for the continued misinformation among young people.
He called for the inclusion of sex education in school curricula, noting that when adolescents are given accurate information at health facilities, their uptake of family planning services improves significantly.
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Expert calls for comprehensive sexual education to tackle health challenge
