Ethical Concerns of teaching Sex Education to Undergraduate Students in Rural Areas of Karachi

Abstract

Background: Traditional values endure in many areas of life, including sexual activity, despite significant modernization and improved gender equity in recent decades. School-based sexual health education has been suggested as a good place to start. Its holistic and interactive nature aims to improve students' sexual and reproductive health and rights by developing their knowledge, attitudes, and life skills. This study aims to understand the rural student's perspectives and feeling about school-based sex education in order to assess their attitude and foster better communication and collaboration between students and teachers.

Methodology: The current cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2021 to December 2021. Data was collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire. Participants were selected from different private and government institutes in the rural area of Karachi-Pakistan. A total of 50 Students filled out the online questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS.20.

Results: A total of 50 students participates in the study. 32 (64%) of the students lived in a nuclear family, while 18 (36%) of the student lived in a joint family. 66% (33) of students believe that Sex Education should be given at early age in schools and Colleges. Maternal and Child Health is the topic that all the study participants (100%) believe must be included in the sex-ed curriculum, while Birth control methods and safer sex practices are the least interesting topic. 34 (68%) students believe that providing sex education at a higher educational setup is ethically and morally justified.

Conclusion: Students prefer to get sex education from their parents and the knowledge they got at School. Moreover, pupils are substantially more conservative in their sexual beliefs and actions when it comes to certain issues taught at educational institutes.