Knowledge and Opinions of Secondary School Students Aged 15-19 in Cameroon’s Capital City Yaounde towards Sex Education and Their Implications for the Implementation of Sex-Education Programmes

Teke Takwa

Sex education especially in schools has become very indispensable in the context of rapid spread of HIV/AIDS and other STDs. This study evaluates the level of exposure, knowledge and opinions of secondary school students in Cameroon's capital Yaounde towards school-based sex education. Data was collected from 2405 students, 1142 boys and 1263 girls using a self-administered questionnaire. 95% of participants believed that it is important for sex education to constitute part of school curriculum. Only 80.5% have actually received sex education lessons at school. 70% of the students declared that they had good access to advice about contraception and sexual health. Obstacles of access to these services include fear of embarrassment, no knowledge of where to go or timidity especially among girls.These desire students the introduction school-based sex education but their current level of exposure to it falls short of demand Key words: sexual and reproductive health, sex education