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Peer Education Makes Young Chinese Discuss Sex, AIDS More Easily
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Abstract
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| In China, where sex is rarely discussed in public, peer education programs are teaching people how to prevent HIV/AIDS, use contraception, respond to sexual harassment, and reject unwanted sexual advances. Experts say the peer education concept, which was brought to China from Australia in 1996, is playing an increasing role in the sexual education of Chinese youth.
International nongovernmental groups like Maria Snopes China, a branch of a British noncommercial public service agency, have led programs in China. MSC has been offering peer education services on sexual and reproductive health issues for students at eight Beijing universities since September 2003. So far, the group has trained 200 students as peer educators.
With its interactive nature, peer education helps teenagers develop proper attitudes toward sex, sexual discrimination, and drugs, said Cui Qi, MSC program officer. 'Young people should be given a chance to learn how to make rational and proper decisions on sexual relationships and reproductive health,' said Cui, who described the experience as 'a game' instead of a lecture or seminar.
Peng Zhu, a Beijing University freshman and a first-time peer education participant, said, 'I feel quite relaxed instead of embarrassed when talking about sex. It is a good idea to be a sex and reproductive health trainer and to share my knowledge with classmates.'
'Teenagers have become sexually mature and active much earlier, but lack of sexual education will put them in a position that's very vulnerable to HIV/AIDS,' said Liu Liqing, chief representative of Marie Snopes to its China office.
Experts have called for governments to train more sex education teachers for primary and middle schools while cultivating more professionals by offering sexology majors at some universities. |
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Subjects
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Asia
HIV/AIDS Prevention
Peer Education
Sex Education
Youth Education
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cdcnpin.org News Record #41520
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