Sex Education

According to Encarta Encyclopedia, Sex education can be defined to as any instruction in the processes and consequences of sexual activity, ordinarily given to children and adolescents. Sex Education usually refers to classroom lessons about sex taught in primary and secondary and tertiary institutions.

Traditionally, the task of instructing adolescents about sex has been seen as the responsibility of the parents. But parent-child communication in sexual matters may be hindered by parental inhibitions or by various intergenerational tensions, and studies have shown that children rarely receive their first information on sexual matters from their parents.

The ultimate aim of sex education is to reduce the spread of sexually transmitted diseases especially HIV. It also helps to prevent unwanted pregnancies among teenagers.

Sex education has contributed unfathomably in curbing aids epidemic in Africa. If not for sex education infection will continue to soar. Sex education should be viewed as beacon of hope in the fight against AIDS. In Nigeria, the incidence of the diseases has been reduced through vigorous public health campaigns. The percentage of the population infected by HIV, the virus that causes Aids has over the years reduced progressively. The number of new cases is also on the decrease.

This notwithstanding, AIDS is still spreading quickly among a certain group who are still vulnerable. These groups of people are still taking risks. These groups are the drug users, who always use unsterilized needles; the prostitutes, especially those who do not use condom during sexual act. Infectious rates among these group has been on increase and will continue definitely continue to rise.