CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1. Conclusion

This study aims to identify the major sources of sexual information for young people in the

Rwandan rural areas, specifically in the district of Impala. To that end, the study investigates

the sources and the content of sexual information available to the youth, as well as how the

youth interpret it. The data for this research were collected using in-depth interviews among 20

young men and women and 20 key informants including parents, teachers, community and

church leaders.

This study has been motivated by the fact that sexual education programme contributes to

significant positive knowledge and change of attitudes among people especially the youth.

Sexual education assists young people in gaining a positive view of sexuality, provides them

with information and skills about taking care of their sexual health, and help them make sound

decisions regarding their lives. The lack of this education may lead young people to suffer

from many sexual related problems such as STDs, HIV/AIDS, unforeseen sexual behaviour

(early sexual intercourse and unintended pregnancies).

Considering on the one hand the fact that many sexual related problems such STDs, HIV/AIDS

and early pregnancies are prevalent in the sub-Saharan Africa, and on the other hand, the lack

of sufficient studies on sexual education in Rwanda, especially in Impala district it seemed a

window of opportunity to me. Thus, I focused on the sources and content of sexual education

available to youth in Impala as well as the way those youths interpret such information.

The study used a theoretical framework including the primary socialization theory, the

individual differences theory, the social categories theory, as well as the information
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consistency and desired action model. Based on these theories I formulated sets of questions

directed to respondents, that allowed to test how applicable was each of them to the case of

Impala district.

Thereafter, the study has found that schools/teachers, peers, churches, community meetings,

anti-AIDS clubs and parents are the main sources of sexual information available to youth in

the district of Impala. However, it was found that the level of education contributes to

determine the predominance of some sources over others. In fact, the study revealed that

schools (exclusively) and peers are the primary source of sexual information available to

educated youths, while community meetings and churches are the primary source of sexual

information for uneducated youths though parents were also mentioned by the latter as

important source. This is partly explained by the “proximity rule” which implies that pupils are

generally more present at school than elsewhere; while uneducated youths are generally closer

to parents (at home) and seem to have more time to participate in church activities and

community meetings.

Nonetheless, although parents were cited mainly by uneducated youths as a source of sexual

information, it has emerged from this study that even for this category (uneducated youth)

parents are not a primary sexual socialisation agents in Impala district. The reason is that some

parents still consider sexual matters as taboo, others feel they are not enough knowledgeable to

discuss some issues such as HIV/AIDS and STIs. Similarly, some children consider their

parents’ ideas as outdated or as senseless and prefer not to hear from their teachings.

The study tested the theory of the primary socialisation, and found that it backed the argument

above by considering schools, peers and parents as the primary sexual socialisation agents.

However, findings demonstrated that the later theory is applicable only partially to Impala. The
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reason was that parents were not cited neither by educated or uneducated youth as their

primary source of information. It can therefore be deduced that such a theory may not be

entirely applicable to the societies of developing countries where for different reasons, a

number of children have not yet access to school or have left it early; and where various factors

such armed conflicts, diseases have caused orphaned a number of children, while others were

separated from their parents. In the same line, in developing societies, because of

predominance of traditional beliefs and lack of formal education, many parents still consider

sexual matters as taboo and keep on silencing such topics during their interaction with their

children.

As regards the message given by the above sources of sexual information, it was found that

HIV/AIDS and STIs, menstrual periods, wet dreams, reproductive health, sexual organs, body

change, sexual intercourse experience, abstinence, and gender roles are the most discussed

topics. In addition, the study noted that the topics discussed and the message spread are not

always the same for all sources of sexual information. For example, it was revealed that parents

(except educated ones) seem to restrict their message to menstrual periods, wet dreams, gender

roles and abstinence, while schools, community meetings and radio, in addition to the above

topics, seem to address HIV/AIDS and STIs, reproductive health, condom use, etc.

In the same vein, it was found that church teachings seem to promote abstinence and condemn

condom use as a way of fighting HIV/AIDS and STIs as well as premarital/extramarital sexual

encounters, while other sources advise condom use to those who fail to abstain from such

sexual relations. Subsequently, the study noted an inconsistency in the message provided by

churches on the one hand and school, community meetings and radio on the other hand, as far

as condom use is concerned. This study has therefore argued that such inconsistency is likely

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to hinder the process of behaviour change among youths because, the information consistency

and desired action model suggests “in case that there is inconsistency in the information

supplied, the utilisation of that information by the receiver becomes more difficult and affect

the decision-making accordingly”.

Following the interpretation by youth in connection with the messages they receive from

different sources available to them, the study revealed that their interpretation differs from one

individual to another or from one group to another. Young Protestants for instance seemed well

disposed to abstain from sex until marriage than other youths from other beliefs. As regards to

sex, young women are very determinated to practice sexual information compared to young

men. This finding show that the individual differences theory and social categories theory are

totally applicable in this study as it has been found that even if youths of Impala district have

received the same message, they reacted differently to it. According to those theories, beliefs,

sex, educational level, religiosity and social group determine the way people react on the

message they receive.

Moreover, the study has assessed different factors that constitute obstacles to the transmission

of sexual information to youth in Impala district. The Rwandan culture, lack of information

and time by parents, poor material conditions, and generation clash emerged as major obstacles

to the sexual education of youths. In fact, it was noted that many parents are still bound by

traditional beliefs which consider sexual matters as taboo and which can not therefore be

discussed between parents and children. In addition, a number of illiterate parents do not have

much knowledge of sexual issues and therefore do not have much to share with their children

with regard to sex education. Furthermore, some educators have not relevant material from

which they can draw relevant information to give to the youths and, subsequently, they abstain
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from giving sexual information or they give inaccurate information. Moreover, it was revealed

that some children consider that their parents’ advice on sexual issues are outdated and prefer

to listen to sources which encourage them to involve in sexual activities.

Lastly, from the issues raised by the findings, the study formulated a number of

recommendations as follows:

5.2. Recommendations

• Youth may take responsibility of their safe life and be careful for all dangers which

may harm it.

• They may also look at choosing the good groups of peers and develop their critical

skills in order to assume their bahaviour.

• As the findings have shown, some youth of Impala district mistrust their parents and

peers’ information and it seems essential to investigate and address this issue.

• In this context, the emphasis on the use of church, school and other sources mentioned

above in this study in the transmission of sexual information might be highly

appropriate.

• Parents should abandon their beliefs that view sexual issues as taboo in order to feel

comfortable and create the atmosphere of trust between them and their children when

discussing sexual issues because children highly need their support.

• Based on the fact that some parents do not provide sexual education to the youth

because of ignorance in this matter, the government may implement the training in

sexual education for parents in each local entity and then parents will be more involved

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 in sexual education of youth by inculcating in them the moral values so that they can

develop safe sex behaviour.

• Parents should also be opened to discussions on sexual issues with their children at

early age as they are considered to be the primary educators of children before the latter

reach school.

• This study highlighted the absence of time for some parents because of living

conditions that are hard in Impala district. Those parents work far from home and come

back later tired. The government therefore, should increase its efforts in the alleviation

of poverty by creating many opportunities so that parents will find job near home and

find time to educate their children.

• The government needs to engage its efforts in increasing sexual discussions in cells,

sectors, and in districts, reinforcing permanently written newspapers on sex matter in

order to inform people who are able to read. In addition, the government may appoint in

every sector a staff of youth reproduction and insist on adding this subject in school

program, church and civil society.

• A combined effort from the mass media, schools, religious bodies, peers education

program and so forth is also useful in educating and counseling youth about sexual

matters.

5.3. Proposals for further research

The sexual education of youths is a complex subject that requires many studies and many

interventions for it to be understood. Few studies like mine have tried to provide some

understanding on sexual education in Impala district, but there is a lot of that still need to be

done:

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1. Further research may be conducted on the contribution of sexual education to the behaviour

change as that is considered to be instrumental in reducing the number of unwanted

pregnancies as far as the risks to HIV/AIDS are concerned.

2. A study of obstacles to sexual behaviour change may be conducted as it has been found by

many scholars that despite the availability of information people do not always change their

behaviour.

3. There is also a need for a comparative study of sources of sexual information of youth in

rural and urban areas, as well as a study of sexual knowledge and attitudes of young female

orphans in Rwanda and that of sexual life of young female orphans.

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