A case study design was used to evaluate the National Adolescent-Friendly Clinic Initiative (NAFCI) programme in Greater Tzaneen Sub-District of the Limpopo Province, South Africa. An interview guide was used to collect data from adolescents who visited the health centre at Nkowankowa in Limpopo Province and from professional nurses who provided the services at the health centre. Records were also reviewed to check clinic attendance of adolescents for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), teenage pregnancy and contraceptive services. According to the study, even though most adolescents made use of the NAFCI services especially those providing for contraception, pregnancy and STIs, the numbers of adolescents falling pregnant and contracting STIs did not decrease. Findings also indicated that VCT services were still not adequately used as indicated by the numbers in the registers. It is recommended that VCT, STI and pregnancy services be monitored and evaluated on a quarterly basis. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Using an experimental-comparison group design, data were collected at the beginning and end of a semester to assess the effect of a human sexuality course on students' sexual knowledge, sexual attitude, and sexual behaviors. Data analysis by t-tests showed statistical differences between the experimental and comparison group only on sexual knowledge scores ( p < .001), with the experimental group scoring higher. T-tests showed statistical difference between males and females in sexual attitude (p< .001) and sexual behavior (p< .001) with women scoring higher than men in the experimental group, and also when experimental and control groups were combined. Although not statistically significant, women scored higher in sexual knowledge than males.

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Knowledge about the importance of consent is crucial regarding several aspects. Previous studies demonstrate the need for extended discussion platforms for consent and that school plays a large role in conveying information about the area. It is also noted that this type of teaching is deficient. To emphasize the importance of consent, curriculum revisions were introduced in July 2022, which clearly focus attention on consent teaching.  This study investigates the implementation of the new curriculum changes regarding the area Sexuality, consent, and relations in biology- and natural science teaching at the secondary and upper secondary school levels. The focus is on the insertion of a clearer framework for consent teaching. The purpose of this study is to enhance understanding of teachers’ efforts and challenges in consent teaching within the subjects of biology and natural science. To investigate the purpose of the study, qualitative interviews with seven qualified biology- and natural science teachers, both from secondary and high school levels, were carried out.  From the results of the study, a clear discrepancy was identified between positive attitudes towards the changes and the actual implementation identified. The results revealed obstacles, such as limited theoretical support and professional development, to realizing pedagogical changes. In terms of teaching methods, the teachers conduct teaching that mainly resolves around discussions, which is in line with the research’s implications of good consent teaching. On the other hand, there is a lack of continuous conversations and interdisciplinary work. The study therefore emphasizes the importance of involving teachers from various subjects to ensure holistic teaching. Finally, the findings highlight a particular challenge of engaging young men in consent education, requiring strategies to include their perspectives and make them understand the meaning of consent. The conclusions highlight the need that it is insufficient to introduce new guidelines without providing support for their implementation. Additionally, there is a requirement for continued research on gender differences and consent education. / Kunskaper om samtyckets betydelse i relationer är avgörande ur flera aspekter. Tidigare studier påvisar att det finns ett behov av utvidgade diskussionsplattformar för samtycke och att skolan spelar en stor roll i att förmedla information kring området. Det påpekas även att denna typ av undervisning är bristfällig. För att trycka på samtyckets betydelse infördes läroplansrevideringar i juli 2022, som tydligt betonar samtyckesundervisning.  Denna studie undersöker implementeringen av nya läroplansändringar kring området Sexualitet, samtycke och relationer i biologi- och naturkunskapsundervisningen för högstadiet och gymnasiet. Fokus ligger på införandet av en tydligare samtyckesundervisning. Syftet med föreliggande studie är att öka kunskapen om lärares arbete och utmaningar med samtyckesundervisning i ämnena biologi och naturkunskap. För att undersöka studiens syfte, genomfördes kvalitativa intervjuer med sju behöriga biologi- och naturkunskapslärare både på gymnasial- och högstadienivå.  Från studiens resultat identifierades en tydlig diskrepans mellan positiva attityder till ändringarna och den faktiska implementeringen av dessa. Resultaten visade på hinder, som begränsat teoretiskt stöd och kompetensutveckling, för att förverkliga pedagogiska förändringar. Vad gäller undervisningsformer bedriver lärarna en undervisning som främst kretsar kring diskussioner, vilket stämmer överens med forskningens implikationer av god samtyckesundervisning. Däremot saknas kontinuerliga samtal och ämnesövergripande arbete. Studien betonar därav vikten av att involvera lärare från olika ämnen för att säkerställa en holistisk undervisning. Slutligen visar resultaten på en särskild utmaning att engagera unga män i samtyckesundervisningen, vilket kräver strategier för att inkludera deras perspektiv och få dem att förstå betydelsen av samtycke. Slutsatserna framhäver behovet av att det inte är tillräckligt att införa nya riktlinjer utan att frambringa stöd för implementeringen av dessa, samt att det förefinns ett behov av fortsatt forskning kring könsskillnader och samtyckesundervisning.

Puberty rites are practised in many countries including South Africa. In South Africa the puberty rites have different names and different practices. This study focused on vukhomba among the Manchangana/Vatsonga. Vukhomba is conducted exclusively for girls who have reached menarche. The purpose of this study was to explore the possibility of utilising vukhomba for the improvement of the health status of women. The study design is a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive contextual research study conducted in the Northern region of the Northern Province among Vatsonga\Manchangana in four selected areas. The ethnographic strategy was used to gain access to the vukhomba to view and describe the rite from an emic perspective. The sample included all girls who were initiates during January 1998 and December 1999 in the four selected areas, as well as Vadzabi, varileri, initiated girls, initiated women and vukhomba elders who attended the initaitions. The techniques for data collection included participant observation, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and feedback workshops. The findings indicate that vukhomba is conducted during the school holidays in order to cater for girls who are still attending school. The sexuality education in this rite is mainly about encouraging initiates to maintain their virginity for their future husbands. Vukhomba therefore teaches girls attending the initiation the facts of life. It was however, found that girls often attend the initiation for material gain and respect for elders. The content of sexuality education information given to girls during the rite is inadequate. Initiated women and girls wanted to gain more knowledge about their bodies, their health, menstruation, child bearing and pregnancy, contraceptives and pregnancy. After reviewing the findings of the research an intervention programme was developed and discussed with the initiated women and initiated girls. Vukhomba elders accepted the intervention programme, however, certain topics were not approved e.g. contraception. The intervention programme is expected to form part of the initiation programme in the future. Initiated community members will be trained to facilitate the activities of this programme. / Health Studies / D.Litt. et Phil.

This study investigated factors contributing to adolescent mothers' non-utilisation of contraceptives in the Piet Retief (Mkhondo) area. Contraceptives, emergency contraceptives and termination of pregnancy services are available free of charge. Nevertheless the number of adolescent mothers continues to increase in this area. Structured questionnaires were completed by 107 adolescent mothers. Most respondents (70,0%) received no sex education prior to their pregnancies, and were not knowledgeable about contraceptives. Subsequent to the birth of their babies, only 59,81% used contraceptives, risking further pregnancies. Adolescents, from the age of 12, should receive sex education. Availability of contraceptives during weekends could help adolescents to postpone their pregnancies. Health education should be given to the mothers in the Piet Retief (Mkhondo) area so that they can provide more effective sex education (including contraception) to their daughters. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

The aim of this study was to investigate how teachers in schools for youths with intellectual disabilities view their pupils’ abilities to access sex education. The study is based on individual interviews with five teachers in years 6 - 9. The theoretical framework has been set by Michel Foucault’s theories on normality and power and “the ignored curriculum” as described by Nathalie A. Gougeon. It is also supported by additional theories on normality and sexuality. The results of the study show that, these pupils have a harder time finding information about sex and relationships, because of the stigma surrounding people with intellectual disabilities in relation to sexuality, and because of the lack of information about sex outside the classroom for youths with intellectual disabilities. Youths with no intellectual disabilities learn about sex also outside of classrooms to a large extent, which is more difficult for youths with intellectual disabilities. The role of the teacher as provider of sex education is therefore crucial.

Šis tyrimas skirtas atskleisti etikos ir biologijos mokytojų, įgyvendinančių „Rengimo šeimai ir lytiškumo ugdymo programą“ (toliau RŠLU), profesinio tobulėjimo poreikius Kauno vidurinėse mokyklose ir gimnazijose. Išanalizavus mokslinę pedagoginę, psichologinę, metodinę literatūrą nagrinėjamos problematikos aspektu, buvo suformuluoti reikalavimai, kurie reikalingi įgyvendinti RŠLU programą. Atskleidžiama mokytojų žinios vykdyti RŠLU programą, tiriamųjų vertybinės nuostatos šeimos, kontracepcijos ir užsimezgusios gyvybės atžvilgiu. Tyrime dalyvavo 69 mokytojai iš 34 Kauno vidurinių mokyklų ir gimnazijų. Pagrindiniai tyrimo metodai – anoniminė anketinė apklausa (tyrimo ataskaitos anketos dalis adaptuota S. Ustilaitės ir kt.) ir testas. Testą – anketą pildė etikos ir biologijos mokytojai. Mokytojai, įgyvendinantys RŠLU programą, privalo gebėti atskirti tokius sąvokų apibrėžimus kaip lytiškumas, lytinis švietimas, lytinis ugdymas ir lytiškumo ugdymas, taip pat turi žinoti lytinio ir lytiškumo ugdymo principus, amžiaus tarpsnių psichologiją, tėvų vaidmenį lytinio ir lytiškumo ugdyme ir kaip turi būti pateikiamos ugdytiniams žinios apie kontracepciją. Tyrimo duomenys rodo, jog ne visi respondentai turi pakankamai specifinių žinių, reikalingų įgyvendinti RŠLU programą. Didžioji dauguma respondentų (65%) negeba atskirti lytiškumo sąvokos nuo lyties apibrėžimo, taipogi lytinio švietimo, lytinio ugdymo ir lytiškumo ugdymo sąvokų. Didžioji dauguma respondentų (68%) nežino kaip turėtų... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / This research is aimed to reveal improvement needs of ethics and biology teachers who implement “preparation for family and sexuality education program” (hereafter PFSE) in Kaunas high schools and gymnasiums. After traversed scientific pedagogical, psychological, methodical literature based on problematic consideration aspect, needs were formed which are essential for PFSE program implementation. Detectable knowledge needed to implement PFSE program, respondent valuation attitude to family, contraception and life forming aspect. 69 teachers from 34 Kaunas high schools and gymnasiums took part in this investigation. Main investigation methods – anonymous questionnaire survey (research report questionnaire part is adapted by S. Ustilaitė and others) and test. Test was completed by ethic and biology teachers. Teachers who implement PFSE program have to manage to separate such definitions as sexuality, sexual education, sexual upbringing and sexuality upbringing, also have to know sexuality and sexual principles, age phase psychology, role of parents in sexuality and sexual education, and how information about contraception has to be revealed. Results of investigation educe that not all respondents have enough specific knowledge which are needed to implement PFSE program. Mayor parts of respondents (65%) are not able to separate sexuality concept from sex definition also sexual upbringing and sexuality upbringing meanings. Most part of respondents (68%) does not know how... [to full text]

This study investigated factors contributing to adolescent mothers' non-utilisation of contraceptives in the Piet Retief (Mkhondo) area. Contraceptives, emergency contraceptives and termination of pregnancy services are available free of charge. Nevertheless the number of adolescent mothers continues to increase in this area. Structured questionnaires were completed by 107 adolescent mothers. Most respondents (70,0%) received no sex education prior to their pregnancies, and were not knowledgeable about contraceptives. Subsequent to the birth of their babies, only 59,81% used contraceptives, risking further pregnancies. Adolescents, from the age of 12, should receive sex education. Availability of contraceptives during weekends could help adolescents to postpone their pregnancies. Health education should be given to the mothers in the Piet Retief (Mkhondo) area so that they can provide more effective sex education (including contraception) to their daughters. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Puberty rites are practised in many countries including South Africa. In South Africa the puberty rites have different names and different practices. This study focused on vukhomba among the Manchangana/Vatsonga. Vukhomba is conducted exclusively for girls who have reached menarche. The purpose of this study was to explore the possibility of utilising vukhomba for the improvement of the health status of women. The study design is a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive contextual research study conducted in the Northern region of the Northern Province among Vatsonga\Manchangana in four selected areas. The ethnographic strategy was used to gain access to the vukhomba to view and describe the rite from an emic perspective. The sample included all girls who were initiates during January 1998 and December 1999 in the four selected areas, as well as Vadzabi, varileri, initiated girls, initiated women and vukhomba elders who attended the initaitions. The techniques for data collection included participant observation, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and feedback workshops. The findings indicate that vukhomba is conducted during the school holidays in order to cater for girls who are still attending school. The sexuality education in this rite is mainly about encouraging initiates to maintain their virginity for their future husbands. Vukhomba therefore teaches girls attending the initiation the facts of life. It was however, found that girls often attend the initiation for material gain and respect for elders. The content of sexuality education information given to girls during the rite is inadequate. Initiated women and girls wanted to gain more knowledge about their bodies, their health, menstruation, child bearing and pregnancy, contraceptives and pregnancy. After reviewing the findings of the research an intervention programme was developed and discussed with the initiated women and initiated girls. Vukhomba elders accepted the intervention programme, however, certain topics were not approved e.g. contraception. The intervention programme is expected to form part of the initiation programme in the future. Initiated community members will be trained to facilitate the activities of this programme. / Health Studies / D.Litt. et Phil.