A comprehensive literature review of the challenges and opportunities in implementing sex education in developing countries

Abstract

Comprehensive sexual education is a commonly used term but is often over-looked and under-implemented in developing countries, creating a significant gap with far-reaching effects on the development of adolescents and young adults. The consequences of poor implementation include violence, slow economic development, early pregnancies, and higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases in these regions (Emenike et al., 2022; Goldfarb & Lieberman, 2021).

The primary objective of this thesis is to understand the challenges and gaps in implementing comprehensive sexual education in developing countries and to explore ways to address them. The research was based on a descriptive approach in analysing findings from academic sources and evidence-based articles relevant to the research topic. Articles were sourced from reliable databases such as CINAHL, PubMed, and Google Scholar.

The research findings indicate that there is a slow application of comprehensive sex education in developing regions. Key barriers to effective implementation include cultural norms, limited financial resources, curriculum and teachers' attitudes, limited government support and policy. Despite these challenges, opportunities to improve implementation exist, such as the use of technology, community-based programs, and the involvement of NGOs. To effectively implement comprehensive sexual education, collaboration is needed among healthcare professionals (such as nurses), families, leaders, communities, governments, international NGOs, and youth, all working toward a shared goal.