There have been calls by different international bodies on adolescent sexual and reproductive health which amongst many things promotes a range of safe and affordable contraceptive methods for young people. According to one of the arguments, most adolescents are sexually active and it is imperative for them to have access to family planning methods that will suit them. Will you encourage your adolescent daughter, niece, granddaughter or any girl to take up any family planning method? ANTHONIA DURU asks.
‘I won’t expect her to be sexually active at such a young age’ – Oba Adeoye
Since I won’t expect her to be sexually active at such a young age, I don’t think there is any reason for me to do so. However, we can engage her in discussions pertaining to such. This is just to prepare her ahead of a time when she will be able to make independent decisions.
‘I will allow her to have access to contraceptives’ – Yinka Shokunbi
Yes, I will allow her have access to contraceptives if I perceive that she is sexually active. I often have conversations with my daughter on sex and to be honest I have made her understand the enormity of the challenges of being sexually active with any guy she is not marred to and she assures me that she understands whatever we talk about. However, she understands that abstinence is important and that protection matters as well. Sometimes I do wonder if it won’t be necessary to get a teenage boy or girl keep condoms in case of unprecedented sex. But what I teach my children is to avoid situations that can lead to rape.
‘I will advise that she waits until she understands her body’ -Agnes Monye
Growing up as an adolescent, I had hormonal imbalance which made my gynaecologist place me on family planning pills just to correct my menstrual cycle. It was a challenging time for me as I would bloat, feel miserable, have hot flashes to mention a few. That being said, I won’t even encourage my adolescent to be sexually active. I will advise that she waits until she understands her body and the consequences of teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and the negative effects of family planning pills on the body.
‘I will provide her with the requisite sex education’ – Emeka Umejei
I am in total support of sex education for adolescents. However, we must take into cognizance the context and the fact that this is Nigeria not Europe or any western country. Therefore, I will not encourage my daughter to use any contraceptive but would provide her with the requisite sex education that would help her negotiate her life as an adult.
‘Adolescents may not know the implications of contraceptives’ -Sam Anokam
No, I will not encourage that. Adolescents may not know the implications of contraceptives at their level. As they grow older, they need to get more education and exposure after which they can decide what they want for themselves.
‘ We should stop suggesting and encouraging morally bankrupt remedies’-Emeka Ugbor-Abosi
Due to the confusion that accompanies adolescence and the fact that young people are not prepared or equipped to handle it, most of them end up becoming emotional wrecks as characterised by mood swings, rebellious traits and secretive nature. However, extensively working on having a close and mutually respectful relationship with your child before this phase helps a great deal in managing the crises associated with it. Children that are free to talk and express themselves to their parents will find it easier to ask questions and therefore get properly guided answers and responses that will allay their fears and help them know what to do. We might not like this but the truth is that the proliferation of sexually active adolescents is a reflection of the gross failure in parenting. When kids have absentee parents, lack proper and responsible role models or cannot effectively communicate with their parents or guardians, then chances are higher that they will gravitate towards external influences, whether adult or peers to fill the void.
And usually such other influences are negative, selfish and wrong for them. This is why most of them end up being sexually active at that phase. Parents and adults in the society should accept responsibility for this failure and immediately begin to take steps to rebuild the family unit, initiate better and qualitative relationships with our children and inculcate good morals into their formal and informal education. We should stop suggesting and encouraging morally bankrupt remedies to our gross incompetence and failures as parents.
