It was in my early days as a Penta Young Reporter that I was given the opportunity to interview the highly regarded Paediatric HIV consultant, Dr. Noella Pereira from the Penta ID Network. Dr Pereira, is an expert in Paediatric HIV in Mumbai. We discussed the following issues: sexual health education, critical issues, societal taboos, and the role of the youth in advocating for better Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) policies and services in India. Read on to see how our conversation went.
Improving knowledge and acceptance of the use of contraception and safe sexual practices
My first question to Dr. Pereira was: How can we enhance awareness and increase acceptance of contraception usage and safe sexual practices among India’s youth, especially in rural India? She emphasised on the importance of extending sex education with information regarding sexuality in schools, as schools are a safe place for an adolescent to learn about sexual health, sex education, and reproductive health. This can help prevent unsafe sex, sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies, and protect adolescents from emotional harm, sexual violence, and discrimination. According to Dr. Pereira, if we empower young people and adolescents in schools, it can increase awareness. She also supported the proposal to initiate the discussion on sex in the family and urged that pre-marital sex should not be encouraged as it may result in dangerous sex and emotional devastation. There has always been a pressing need in countries to begin sex education at home and with the parents being the right resources for this education so that we can attain better sexual health for our youth and freedom from sexually transmittable diseases such as HIV, syphilis and hepatitis.
Social taboo and stigma on sexual health and rights
There are many taboos and stigma about sexuality according to Dr. Pereira, which have affected the youth both mentally and physically. In most regions in India, sex is quite a taboo subject that essentially means there is little conversation about it at home. The stigma surrounding discussions over this topic makes the younger minds shy away from openly going to anyone for any form of help or advice, so most of them seek information online through platforms like social media which could reveal false and inappropriate material in the process. She emphasised that such discussions should be initiated at home or, better still, with a counsellor, healthcare provider, or teacher. She agrees that bad practices will only be terminated and good ones encouraged in the healthy well-being of young people through open discourse.
Youth Participation and Leadership in Advocating for Improved SRHR Policies and Services
In relation to SRHR, Dr. Pereira thinks that the youth hold a very important role. She advises the youth and directs them to disseminate correct information about sexual health to their friends and schoolmates to educate them about the situation in SRHR. There is a possibility of improvement in SRHR policy provisions and services through participation with the youth being at the helm of action. While Dr. Pereira said that she thinks that disseminating knowledge to the youthful generation would push them further giving them the impetus towards taking responsibility along with encouraging advocacy for health and rights for themselves.
Impact of comprehensive sexuality education
According to Dr. Pereira, the Indian youth’s knowledge and perception of SRHR are mainly affected by lack of comprehensive sexuality education. She believed that proper information at an appropriate age would reduce abortions, unplanned pregnancies, and unsafe sex among the youth. It can also encourage the use of contraceptives, natural contraception, delaying sexual debut until they are older in age and more informed. It can also help in developing communication skills among young people. Sex education can also teach the youth how they can prevent sexually transmitted diseases and advocate for free marital screening tests before marriage or prior to engaging in a sexual relationship. Through education, we will prevent sexually transmitted diseases and ensure that the youth make informed decisions on their sexual health.
Strategies to ensure access of SRHR education and services among adolescents and young people living with HIV
The following are strategies to ensure adolescents and young adults living with HIV have access to comprehensive SRHR education and services according to Dr. Pereira. This would include ” MITWA ” sessions which means being a friend, philosopher, and guide. These sessions conducted under the aegis of National AIDS Control Organization include a three to four-day session on some basic anatomy of the reproductive system, relationships, and the idea of “Undetectable = Untransmissible” for all HIV-positive adolescents. Counselling by health professionals and counsellors can certainly provide appropriate information on sexual and reproductive rights. The use of condoms and contraceptives in preventing unwanted pregnancies and unsafe sex is also emphasised. Such sessions and counselling can prevent the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
Conclusion
It was exciting to work with Dr. Noella Pereira, the hope and passion she has for improving sexual and reproductive health among youth in India was really inspiring. Her emphasis on education, open dialogue, and participation makes it so apparent that comprehensive strategies are needed to bring about a change in the challenges facing young people accessing sexual health information and services as a society. She also highlighted the need for comprehensive sexuality education in schools to positively impact the awareness and understanding of SRHR among Indian youth. Dr. Pereira suggested that youth-led initiatives could be more effective in promoting SRHR awareness than those conducted by older individuals, as they speak the same language and can relate better to their peers.