Why is sex and reproductive education essential for adolescents?
Why is sex and reproductive education essential for adolescents? Many adolescents are afraid of where to go, how to get services, whether there will be confidentiality, and whether their family will find out. Sandhya Rai, 16, had consensual sex and was forced to have an unsafe abortion after becoming pregnant. Unwanted pregnancies and health problems are on the rise in Nepal due to lack of access to sex education and reproductive health services for adolescents. ‘Sandhya Rai’ (name changed) was a 16-year-old student in grade 10. She fell in love with a young man in grade 11 at the same school she attended. Both dreamed of getting married after completing their studies. One day, they went to Nagarkot to celebrate the young man’s birthday and stayed there. They had consensual sex. A few months later, Sandhya discovered that her menstruation had stopped. After she told her mother, she was tested at the hospital. It was confirmed that she was pregnant. Legal complications aros...