Local-stakeholders’ engagement in the implementation of comprehensive sexuality education in selected public schools in Samfya district, Zambia.

Abstract

This study examined the local-stakeholders’ involvement in the implementation of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in selected public schools in Samfya district of Zambia. The study used a qualitative case study research design involving 27 participants who included parents, teachers and pupils. The sample was purposively selected from three public schools in the district. Data were collected using document analysis, lesson observations, semi-structured interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGD). Thematic analysis was used to analyse data. The findings of the study showed that there were no local stakeholders directly involved in the implementation of CSE. However, some local stakeholders such as health workers, the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and some parents were reported to be involved in doing related activities aimed at preventing early marriages and teenage pregnancies in the community. The study further indicated that although some NGOs were involved in doing some activities to promote the prevention of teenage pregnancies, such activities were only targeting some pupils, especially those supported by such NGOs. The parents who were reported to be involved were also engaged by such NGOs, making their activities limited only to the pupils supported by such NGOs. Further, health workers’ activities were mainly reactive as opposed to being pro-active as they were only called upon when certain vices are noticed such as an increase in teenage pregnancies and/or Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) including HIV among pupils. The conclusion of this study, therefore, is that there is little collaboration between public schools and local-stakeholders in the implementation of CSE. This has resulted in the lack of harmonization of activities carried out by public schools and other stakeholders although they all aim at achieving such health goals as reducing teenage pregnancies and transmission of STIs including HIV among pupils. This study therefore, recommends that public schools should sensitise the local stakeholders about CSE programmes and include them in its implementation through the multidisciplinary team approach to CSE implementation.