CHANDIGARH: While sex education and counselling is a much-talked about
topic in the city, the adolescents are hardly ever dealt with properly in this regard, as a result of which they find themselves disoriented while dealing with such a sensitive issue. In a recent study conducted by the Centre for Adult and Continuing Education, Panjab University,
it was found that out of 80 children, none felt free to discuss sex and related physical changes during adolescence.
Parents are not spending quality time with their children, which has been the main reason for their going astray. In the city, most of the adolescents in the 12-19 year age group are apprehensive of talking about changes in puberty phase and sex awareness with their parents. The main investigator in the study, Renu Gandhi, a sociologist in the department, said, ‘Teaching life skills along with sex education is pertinent when it comes to awareness amongst the youth. Life skills include emotional stability, problem-solving and proper grooming. Sex education alone cannot work.’
The study covered adolescents from Indira Colony and Burail. ‘We had equal number of adolescents from both these places. It was revealed that girls found it difficult to open up with their mothers on areas like menstrual cycle and associated hygiene,’ Renu added.
Though State AIDS Control Organization (SACO) has red ribbon clubs in colleges and schools have their own such clubs without sponsorship from AIDS Control Society, awareness on HIV and safe sex is still missing amongst adolescents. As Pinki, associated with Butterfly, a city-based NGO, said, ‘These clubs undertake education without application of the concept to the society. Poster making and debates are not sufficient. There needs to be a friendly environment and a trained counsellor to spread awareness on this subject.’
Based on the study, Renu has been conducting workshops to sensitize the youth. ‘Parents should come forward and spend time with their children. They otherwise tend to get hooked on to the internet out of curiosity,’ she added.