There are approximately 25 million young people aged 15 to 24 in Pakistan – the largest number in the country’s history.  Little research has been done on their health needs, particularly sexual and reproductive health.  Experience between genders differs and adults’ reluctance to discuss puberty and sexual development means that young people rely on their peers and the media for information.

Researchers from the UK's University of Southampton and the Pakistani non-governmental organisation, 'Helping Hands for Community Development', examined young peoples’ experience of learning about sexual development in Pakistan where discussion of such issues is often suppressed.  They looked at the process and context in which knowledge is gained; young people’s views on the adequacy of information received; and key differences in how young men and women access it.

The researchers conducted 24 focus group discussions with young men and women aged between 18 and 24 in Lahore and Faisalabad. These two cities differ in the social and cultural profile of their populations.  Discussions were conducted in the local language and led by trained bilingual researchers who were a similar age to the participants.

The following key findings emerge:

• While young women mostly gain information from their mothers, fathers are unlikely to discuss sexual development with their sons.  Fathers expect their sons to obtain such knowledge outside the home, or from another relative.
• Information is often given in response to an event, such as the onset of menstruation.
• Information obtained by young people is superficial and focuses on personal hygiene or expected behaviour rather than the biological and emotional changes of puberty.
• Young men felt their sources of information were unreliable and believed that young women gained information from more reliable sources such as their mothers.
• A female relative may give a young woman information about marital relations immediately before marriage.  Young men are more likely to have access to sexually explicit pornography and may seek information on sexual relations and techniques before their wedding.
• The participants wanted more information to be given at an earlier age through the school curriculum.  Community-based information provision was seen as appropriate for young men, but problematic for young women.

The findings reveal significant differences between young men and women in the way they gain knowledge of sexual health and development. Information can be inadequate and from unreliable sources, and the study highlights a lack of formal, neutral and private sources of information.

Policy implications include:

• Any programme to provide information will need to be gender specific. Young women must be targeted in the home or family, whereas young men can be reached through social and community networks.
• Any sex education programme must balance social and cultural information with reproductive biology, and give prominence to the latter. The timing of such information is also important.
• Sex education curriculum in schools should be designed so that they reach all pupils, not just those who chose science subjects.  Single sex classes are essential.
• Young women who drop out of school are often supervised by their parents and community leaders: including these ‘gatekeepers’ in community-based initiatives may be an effective way of ensuring they receive the information they need.

More needs to be known about the attitudes of parents, teachers and religious leaders on the acceptability of sex education and appropriate ways of delivering it.  Future policy initiatives must be based on understanding of young peoples’ needs and the concerns of their parents and community leaders.

Source(s):
‘Knowledge of personal and sexual development amongst young people in Pakistan’, Opportunities and Choices working paper 12, by M. Hennink, I. Rana and R. Iqbal, 2004 Full document.
'Knowledge of personal and sexual development amongst young people in Pakistan', Culture, Health and Sexuality, by M. Hennink, I. Rana, and R. Iqbal, in press

Funded by: UK Department for International Development ‘Opportunities and Choices’ Knowledge Programme, University of Southampton

id21 Research Highlight: 4 February 2005

Further Information:
Monique Hennink
School of Social Sciences
University of Southampton
Southampton SO17 1BJ
UK

Tel: +44 (0) 2380 597989
Fax: +44 (0) 2380 593846
Contact the contributor: mon@soton.ac.uk

University of Southampton, UK

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