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Abstract

Adolescent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) remains a challenge globally. High school youths without comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) are more likely to engage in high risk sexual behaviors than their peers in schools with CSE. Fiji continues to have very poor adolescents SRH indicators. This study aimed to gauge the perceptions of students towards the delivery of SRH education in schools in Fiji. A qualitative study design was used to collect data from students in year 11-13 in public secondary schools in Suva, Fiji in 2018. Schools with equal ethnic mix were selected. A semi-structured open-ended questionnaire was used to guide Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). A male research facilitator conducted FGD with males while a female research facilitator facilitated that amongst the females. Data collected was analyzed thematically. Seven FGDs were conducted. A total of 46 students (29 males) participated with the age range from 17-19 years old. Eight themes emerged: current SRH education; students' knowledge on adverse consequences of SRH; sources of SRH information; need for sex education; provision of SRH education in schools; characteristics of teachers of SRH education; age-appropriate incremental sex education; and ideal version of SRH. The study shows that Fijian students desired a lot more from sex education than what is currently offered for sexual decision-making. There is a need for mandatory and comprehensive sex education for young people.

Keywords: Sexual and reproductive health, school-based sex education, qualitative study, students, Fiji

Introduction

Worldwide, adolescent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) remains a challenge (1). Sixteen million births worldwide, 111 million cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and 15% of new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases, occur among adolescents (2). Worldwide, maternal health issues are a leading cause of death among adolescent women. In 2015, the adolescent fertility rate (AFR) for 15 to 19-year-old women was 44 per 1,000 births, with much higher rates in low-income countries (97 per 1,000), compared to high-income countries (19 per 1,000) (3).

In the Pacific, although HIV prevalence has not exceeded 1% in the general population it is increasing amongst women and there are high rates of other STIs. Prevalence rates for physical or sexual violence among Pacific Island women (15-49 years of age), is extremely high at approximately 60-77% (4). In terms of...

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