Sexual and reproductive health in schools in Fiji

A qualitative study of teachers' perceptions

Bibliographic Data

ID21600918
AuthorsSharan Ram (0000-0003-1903-8677, Fiji National University), Masoud Mohammadnezhad (0000-0002-5048-9719), Masoud Mohammadenzhad (Fiji National University)
Year2020
Volume120
Issue1
Pages57-71
Publication date2020-04-10
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0965-4283 • E-ISSN: 1758-714X
PublisherEmerald (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1108/he-02-2019-0005
OpenAlexW3015681856
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited21

Purpose Teachers are a key to success for school-based sex health education programmes; however, they may not be able to consistently implement it due to a myriad of reasons. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of teachers regarding the delivery of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education in secondary schools in Fiji. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative study design was used to collect the data from SRH education teachers in Suva, Fiji between July and August 2018. This study included teachers who taught sex education for at least two years. Five focus group discussions (FGDs) were run using a semi-structure questionnaire among groups stratified by gender. Data collected were transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed. Findings The study findings reveal that implementation of SRH education is vague, not mandatory and not comprehensive. Teachers acknowledged that SRH was not adequately covered in homes and underscored its importance for young people. Teachers viewed schools as ideal place for delivering sex education, however, could not consistently implement due to a lack of adequate information and skills, feared negative parental reaction, felt uncomfortable delivering sensitive topics and in most cases felt apprehensive to discuss sexuality issues in light of lack of training and resources. Originality/value To improve SRH education delivery, there need to be a focus on strengthening capacity building of teachers through pre-service and in-service health education, improved monitoring, evaluation and context–specific resource development and allocation

Environmental health · Focus group · Health education · Human sexuality · Medical education · Pedagogy · Perception · Population · Public health · Qualitative property · Qualitative research · Reproductive health · Social science · Sociology · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Gender Studies · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · School Health and Nursing Education

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