How should school-based sex education be provided for adolescents in Saudi Arabia? Views of stakeholders

Horanieh, Nour; Macdowall, Wendy; Wellings, Kaye

doi:10.1080/14681811.2020.1843424

Cited by 15 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Teachers in Saudi Arabia have expressed uneasiness and 'awkwardness' discussing sexual health information with their students (Horanieh et al, 2020). Teachers are also currently viewed as 'ill-equipped' to deliver sex education in schools.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Teachers are also currently viewed as 'ill-equipped' to deliver sex education in schools. These views are shared by teachers themselves and by other stakeholder groups in Saudi Arabia (Horanieh et al, 2020). Lack of teacher training in the area of sexual health and teachers' negative attitudes towards sexual health topics also act as a barrier to sexual and reproductive health education (Barbour & Salameh, 2009;UNICEF, 2011;Alquaiz et al, 2012;Javadnoori et al, 2012;Population Council, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Barriers to Sexual and Reproductive Wellbeing Among Saudi Women: a Qualitative Study

et al. 2021

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Introduction In Saudi Arabia, sexual and reproductive health education is not offered in any formal setting, and there is a significant lack of knowledge amongst Saudi women. This study aimed to explore barriers to Saudi women’s sexual and reproductive wellbeing. Methods The study employed qualitative methods using semi-structured interviews with women in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2019. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results Twenty-eight women were interviewed. Sexual and reproductive wellbeing is a complex matter affected by personal, familial, environmental, socio-cultural, religious, and institutional factors. Being unmarried is a significant barrier to accessing sexual and reproductive information and services, with ignorance signifying modesty and purity. Parental control acted as a barrier to acquiring knowledge and accessing essential healthcare services. Schools contribute to lack of awareness, with teachers omitting sexual and reproductive health-related subjects and evading answering questions. Conclusions There are multiple factors that restrict Saudi women’s access to sexual and reproductive health information and services, impacting their overall wellbeing. Research and policy efforts should be directed towards overcoming the complex barriers to Saudi women’s sexual and reproductive wellbeing. Public health initiatives are needed to improve youth, parents, and teacher’s knowledge, and improve public perceptions towards sexual and reproductive health education.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Barriers to Sexual and Reproductive Wellbeing Among Saudi Women: a Qualitative Study

et al. 2021

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“…The cultural context of policy making may also influence how educational policies are interpreted, particularly when they involve themes that may deem to be sensitive in particular social traditions. For example, in a research study conducted with policy makers, health-care providers, teachers, and religious scholars in Saudi Arabia (Horanieh et al, 2020), stakeholders differentiated between who should be in charge of designing the programmes and who should deliver them. For instance, researchers observed tension on the role of religious scholars within these two phases of implementation, as some of their beliefs were not aligned with the teaching content.…”

Section: Research On the Inclusion Of Stakeholders In Educational Inn...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Policymakers’ Views of Future-Oriented Skills in Science Education

Ioannidou

Erduran

2022

Front. Educ.

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The rapid changes in science and society during the last decade have demonstrated the need for readiness to address the uncertain future through the development of future-oriented skills. Despite previous attempts, there is still no consensus regarding what is meant by “future-oriented skills” and how these could be integrated into science curricula. Stakeholders’ views about what future-oriented skills are and how they should be taught would provide a clearer understanding of their needs and their perceived characteristics of effective new teaching approaches. Thus, given the pivotal role that policymakers play in education policies, this study investigated the views of 35 policymakers based in the United Kingdom, Italy, Finland, and Lithuania. Participants completed an online survey that elicited their views on future-oriented skills, as well as ways of integrating them into national science curricula. The data analysis included descriptive statistics and qualitative analysis based on the principles of thematic analysis. The qualitative analysis followed a combination of inductive and deductive coding approaches. The findings of this study highlight that among other skills, participants stressed the need for introducing problem-solving and critical thinking in science classrooms in order to better address the uncertainty of future challenges, such as environmental issues. Therefore, policymakers seem to agree that there is a need for moving away from traditional teacher-centred approaches when teaching future-oriented skills. These results provide valuable insights into policymakers’ needs and expectations. In doing so, this study can serve as a starting point for a systematic approach toward integrating future-oriented skills into science curricula.

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“…Sex is taught as a spousal right, if practised within marriage, but a sinful and forbidden act if done outside of marriage (Saudi Arabia MoE 2019; Horanieh, Macdowall, and Wellings 2020a). It is also taught that premarital and extramarital sexual relations are the primary cause of STIs, without the provision of any information on preventive measures except abstinence (Saudi Arabia MoE 2019; Horanieh, Macdowall, and Wellings 2020b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual and reproductive health knowledge, perceptions and experiences of women in Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study

et al. 2021

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Background: There is no formal sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education currently offered in Saudi Arabia. Lack of knowledge and misconceptions are evident among Saudi women, which can lead to negative sexual and reproductive experiences. The aim of this study is to explore Saudi women's SRH knowledge, perceptions and experiences. Methods: Qualitative semi-structured interviews with Saudi women were conducted. Interviews took place in a public hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Interviews were conducted in Arabic, recorded and transcribed verbatim, to allow for thematic analysis of the data. The following themes were identified: experience with menarche, deep-rooted negative views towards sex, difficulty discussing SRH topics, knowledge of sex and reproduction, generational gap, sources of SRH information and the role of the mother. Results: A total of 28 women, both married and unmarried, aged 20-50 years were interviewed. A profound lack of SRH knowledge was observed among Saudi women which contributed greatly to negative experiences both in childhood and adulthood. Lack of knowledge about menstruation often caused emotional distress for young girls, and menarche was associated with bad memories and negative emotions. Lack of knowledge about sexual intercourse and the deep-rooted negative views towards sex were linked with physical and psychological issues for women. Women rarely received information from their parents or teachers and preferred the internet for their SRH information. Conclusion: There is a substantial unmet need for SRH education for women in Saudi Arabia. It is our recommendation that SRH education should be tailored to meet Saudi women's unique needs, while understanding specific socio-cultural barriers to SRH education and discussions. Research and policy efforts should be directed towards regulating and producing evidence-based health information on the internet, particularly Arabic language websites.

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How should school-based sex education be provided for adolescents in Saudi Arabia? Views of stakeholders

Cited by 15 publications

References 18 publications

Barriers to Sexual and Reproductive Wellbeing Among Saudi Women: a Qualitative Study

Barriers to Sexual and Reproductive Wellbeing Among Saudi Women: a Qualitative Study

Policymakers’ Views of Future-Oriented Skills in Science Education

Sexual and reproductive health knowledge, perceptions and experiences of women in Saudi Arabia: a qualitative study

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