Why All Children Need Sex Education

Medical Video: Sex Education | Age Appropriate Topics

Reporting from BKKBN, the results of the 2012 Central Bureau of Statistics survey revealed that the teenage pregnancy rate at the age of 15-19 years reached 48 out of 1,000 pregnancies. The high teenage pregnancy rate is one of the contributors to the number of maternal and infant deaths in Indonesia.

According to HIV / AIDS Inflammatory data RI Ministry of Health, the incidence of HIV at the age of 15-24 years reached up to 4,400 cases in 2014. Based on risk factors, sexual relations between men and women without safeguards were classified as the main causes of HIV infection over the past five years. In 2015, HIV infection due to unprotected vaginal penetration reached 46.2 percent.

Sex education is not pornography

Unfortunately, until now sex education in schools continues to be rejected by many parties. The reason is that sex education is suspected of being counterproductive and leading to pornography. In fact, the lack of formal access to sex education in Indonesia makes children and adolescents tend to satisfy their curiosity through other channels, such as the internet, pornographic films, and peers which are generally inappropriate and can be dangerous.

In fact, comprehensive sex education will be effective for overcoming promiscuity. Quote from advocatesforyouth.org, comprehensive sex education and effective HIV / AIDS prevention programs show influence on behavior change and / or achieve positive health impacts, including delaying first sex, decreasing the incidence of unsafe sex, increasing condom use and contraception, and pregnancy rates and numbers the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is much lower.

This is where the role of parents is needed as the primary educator of children, to involve them in discussions of sexuality and reproductive health. When parents talk about sexuality with their children, you can ensure that the information they get is the right information. Parents must be the child's first source of sex and sexuality.

When children are curious about sex, discuss it. Don't be considered taboo.

Studies show that the more often children are exposed to sexual images in the media, the greater their involvement in sexual activity and / or behavior from a very young age. Even so, actual sex education will not lead children to promiscuity.

Curiosity about sex is a natural step in the growth of children to learn about their bodies. Sex education helps children to understand more about the body and help them love their own bodies.

Discussing sexuality is an important part of open communication with your child. Open communication, done early, and honestly between parents and children is important, especially when they are teenagers.

The communication channels that are always available between parents will allow children to be open and talk directly with their parents about all ABG life problems, including depression, courtship, alcohol and drug use, and sexual problems. Also, it allows parents to avoid giving a long 'lecture' that is not felt comfortable by ABG children. Let the child express all his questions and opinions so that the discussion about sex becomes a discussion, not just one-way talks.

Sex education also provides an opportunity for you to instill your family's values. For example, if you and your family believe that sexual relations must be done after marriage, this can be the topic of discussion of your conversation with the child. If things like this have never been discussed before, there is a high chance that your teen will not receive this message.

Research shows that children who have received sex education at home from their parents tend not to engage in risky sexual behavior.

How do you start sex education at home?

When talking about sex with children, make sure that the discussion matches their age. Explain the topic in a simple language so that your child understands, and do not directly give "public lectures" with various topics at one time. Children tend to show their curiosity about pregnancy and how babies are made, compared to the sex mechanism itself.

Since childhood, children must be able to know and distinguish body parts, including genitalia. Avoid ambiguous naming such as "anu" or "milk" to help children learn to understand their own bodies, and so that they can identify problems correctly when you suspect sexual violence that has happened to your child. So, use the correct term from the start: breasts, chest, nipples, penis, vulva, vagina, testicles.

If your toddler asks where the baby came from, you can provoke him by asking back, "What do you think?" To find out how good his understanding is. You can explain in simple language, like, "Babies live in the womb of the mother. When the baby is older, he is out of the way of birth, his name is vagina. "

Of course you can modify your explanation of sex and pregnancy according to your child's age. At the age of 6-10 years, you can begin to explain what sex is ("sex is when a penis from a man enters a woman's vagina") with good explanations and a language that is comfortable for you and your child.

Another important thing is puberty. Introducing children to the concept of puberty and how the physical body changes due to puberty is a good idea to do early, even before the child reaches puberty. For example, "Deck, try to see the older brother. Now he's bearded (or has breasts) and his voice is big, right? Everyone like that. Later, if you grow up, it will be like that. Hair will also grow on your penis / vagina, and in your armpits. "

Different age, different ways of conveying

When talking to teenagers, convey not only facts and information about sexuality, but also your feelings, opinions and attitudes about certain issues, such as oral sex or issues of sexuality in general, in accordance with the context of family, religious, or your personal. Objectively identify the risks of each condition, including from the emotional side, infectious infections, and unwanted pregnancies. Explain the importance of contraception, especially condoms, and also that oral sex is not a safe solution to vaginal penetration.

If your teen is watching porn, don't panic. Don't also scold him. Use this opportunity as an opening for discussion about what he has seen and tell him that being curious about sex is normal. As a parent, you must use this opportunity to correct the 'fantasies' and real-world risks that might occur from pornographic films, and that sex is a personal and private thing for adults.

Various factors such as peer pressure, curiosity and loneliness, for example, direct some teens in early sexual activity. But, don't bother to rush. Remind your ABG children that sex is an adult's behavior. Until then, there were still many other ways to express love, by talking, walking, holding hands, kissing, or hugging.

Also explain that no one should feel obliged to have sex on the basis of coercion or fear. All kinds of sex on the basis of coercion are forms of rape, no matter the offender is a stranger or who they know well.

Always stress to your child that no is not, and the influence of alcohol or drugs will damage their ability to make sex decisions, and can lead to sexual violence.

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