Attitudes of high school learners towards sexuality education in Zululand

A dissertation submitted for the fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Masters of Arts (Counselling Psychology) in the Department of Psychology, University of Zululand, 2008. === With the constant rise of HIV/AIDS and pregnancies amongst teenagers in South Africa, it is important for re...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Myeza, Nonhlanhla Patience
Other Authors: Edwards, S.D.
Format: Others
Language:en
Published: 2009
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10530/125
Description
Summary:A dissertation submitted for the fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Masters of Arts (Counselling Psychology) in the Department of Psychology, University of Zululand, 2008. === With the constant rise of HIV/AIDS and pregnancies amongst teenagers in South Africa, it is important for research to investigate and evaluate attitudes held by teenagers towards their sexuality education. This research study examined teenagers attitudes towards sexuality education with a questionnaire, eliciting both quantitative and qualitative data, which was administered in two schools, one urban and one rural, to 200 participants whose ages ranged from 12to 20 years. The findings indicated that learners held generally positive attitudes towards sexuality education, with female and urban learners holding significantly more positive attitudes than male and rural learners respectively. Learners indicated that the sexuality programme provide valuable information especially with regard to their own bodies and self-respect. They were of the opinion that teenage pregnancy and HIV/AIDS could be prevented through abstinence, condom and contraceptive use, parental involvement, stopping grants for teenage pregnancy, promoting virginity, masturbation the use of sex toys. Finally they thought that sexuality education could be improved parents and teachers telling the truth, through the teaching of values and morals and by making the subject more practical, prominent in churches. Discussion is concerned with findings and recommendations which are of special relevance in the South African context.