IN a Catholic-dominated country like the Philippines, the topic of sex is often seen as taboo for many Filipinos due to its context and the conservative roots that we’ve come to be well familiar with.
Due to this “taboo” perception that was planted in our heads, the topic of sex became an off-limit conversation with many Filipinos growing up.
The consequences of this later followed as the year went by and are seen in the continuously increasing statistics of teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and the lack of awareness when it comes to giving consent.
The absence of this education on sexual health perpetuates harmful misinformation and stereotypes that leave the younger generation vulnerable to the consequences of unsafe sexual behavior.
The context of sex education
The process of sex education teaches people (specifically students) about human sexuality in an informative and responsible way. While it covers primarily the topic of sex, the education covers a wide range of topics that include:
- Reproductive Health
- Human Anatomy
- Healthy relationships
- Consent and Communication
- Rights and Responsibilities
- Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation
The goal of sex education is not limited to preventing various diseases and unwanted pregnancies as the topic also tackles respectful sexual boundaries, and responsible sexual behavior, and promotes emotional well-being.
The consequences of lacked education
With the lack of proper education and guidance when it comes to one’s sexual awareness.
When young people don’t receive accurate and age-appropriate sex education–they come face to face with misinformation, unwanted pregnancies, high vulnerability to sexual violence, and many more.
In 2021, from the total of 2,320 recorded teen pregnancies in the country, total live births amongst under 15-year-old girls went up by 35.13 percent in the country–counting 3,135 in 2022.
While teen pregnancies have become one of the problems that the country is dealing with, a case of increasing HIV rates in the country has also entered the line when it comes to the problem that young people are faced with.
From the years of 2010 to 2023, a rapid increase of HIV infections recorded a 543% rise.
One in three HIV-positive individuals in the Philippines receives their diagnosis late in life, frequently following the discovery of underlying diseases like pneumonia or tuberculosis.
The Department of Health (DOH) warned that if the current trend continues, the number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) might reach 448,000 by the year 2030.
Aside from the growing statistics of HIV cases and teen pregnancies, sexual violence among women and children are also seen as another issue in the country.
According to the Philippine Commission on Women, 8,399 cases of physical violence; 1,719 cases of rape, and 1,505 acts of lasvicousness are recorded in the year 2021.
Meanwhile in the report made by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in 2023, a total of 2,644 cases were reported–an alarming rate compared to the recorded 2,311 cases in 2021.
Through the lack of sexual education among young people, the young people becomes a target for vulnerablity amongst to those who had bad intentions and the consequences of this speaks to the increasing numbers of sexual violence, sex-related diseases, and unwanted pregnancies.
If the sex education continues to be stigmatized amongst the youth, another generation of Filipinos would fall into a cycle of not being able to know their rights and responsibilities.
Whether the elders come to agree and disagree with the implementation of the sex education in the country; even if you kept on reminding them to wait after marriage to participate in such activities—they will still do it and it is up to us to teach and guide them.
