Issues surrounding Reproductive Health which
include, but not restricted to Myths, Misconceptions and Barriers especially
concerning the adolescents and youths were brought to the fore at a meeting organized
by Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI) to sensitize
Journalists on Strategic Approaches to Family Planning for Adolescents and Youths
reportage which held at AHI Hall, Jibowu, Lagos, SUCCESS DAMIAN reports:
The NURHI
organised sensitization workshop was designed to equip Journalists as information
disseminators on the best strategy to inform and educate the public on issues
of Reproductive health.
Much of the
discussion which centered on Media Strategic Approaches in Promoting Adolescent
and Youths Reproductive Health/ Life Planning for Adolescents and Youths (AYSRH/LPAY);
also has discussions around the right content, language, and ensuring a balanced
reproductive health system reportage.
Speaking on
Media Strategic Approaches in Promoting AYSRH/LPAY, DEVCOMS Program Director,
Mr Akin Jimoh said the major objective of the topic is to help understand the
strategic role of the media in safeguarding the life of the Nigerian
adolescents and youths in relation to their sexual behaviours; help understand
the media consumption patterns of the Nigerian youths and adolescents vis a vis
reproductive health; suggest strategic media engagement framework for
influencing positive sexual behaviours for the youths and adolescents for
better lives; discuss some tactical media approaches to preventing consequences
of unbeneficial sexual behaviours and engage the partnership of the media to
support LPAY and influence policies.
In his
words, “The Role of the media include raising awareness about LPAY, Inform
listeners, readers and viewers about steps they can take to protect themselves
and others Serve as source of accurate LPAY information for young people; Mobilise
stakeholders to play their parts in promoting LPAY, regularly generate
discussions on LPAY for young people, access to quality Life Planning information
and services is about reaching their maximum life potentials and adding value
to the society.”
Jimoh also
stated that Life Planning for Adolescents and Youths (LPAY) is a program designed
to enable young people ages 15-24 to become informed and actively make
responsible and healthy choices in matters related to their reproductive
health.
This,
according to him is because they are confronted by their sexuality which is in
full bloom, largely in search for clear sexual identity, though having limited
or no guided supply of knowledge or information about their sexuality.
He said they
generally require guidance on sexual issues; need the appropriate media
perspectives on reproductive health.
Continuing on
the youths and adolescents he said “There is a correlation between the stage of
our national development and the state of Nigerian youths, there is so much
democracy and self-help technology, with large percentage of them being
affected by unemployment, faulty education system and poverty. They are also largely
influenced by new media and continuous reinforcement of risky sexual habits by the
environment.”
Jimoh said adolescents
in Nigeria generally have low levels of contraceptive use which in turn result
in unplanned pregnancy and the high rate of abortions (Guttmatcher, 2001 via
NURHI), adding that there is very limited media space for health generally,
very little on reproductive health, and that Information shared by the media on
RH is sometimes complex, while Capacity of traditional media diminishes for
economic reasons.
Jimoh added
that there is need for a multi target approach that target both the parents and
the youth.
“It is
therefore more urgent now than ever to upheld, support and promote the sexual
and reproductive health and rights of adolescents and youth especially girls so
that they will not continue to lose their lives needlessly,” he said.
Speaking on subtopics
which include Introduction to Planning for Adolescent, who are Adolescents and
why life planning, frequently asked questions about Life Planning for
Adolescent and Youths (LPAY), barriers to adolescents and youth contraception; Youth
Programme Officer, Agani Bless-me Oluwatobilola, said Journalist has great role
to play in education and dissemination of information on reproductive health
system especially as it concerns the youths and adolescents.
Describing
adolescence as a period of transition between childhood and adulthood which
requires special attention and protection, Owuwatobilola said “It is a period
in which 'although no longer considered a child, the young person is not
considered an adult either’. It is a period of social, economic, physiological
and psychological development; a period of stress, experimentation and disorganization,
a period of opportunities, risk and vulnerabilities.
She said there
is minimal flow of information on RH/FP to young persons from the traditional
media while religious leaders promote mainly abstinence for unmarried youth.
Community
structure tends to be biased towards unmarried and sexually active youth.
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