Abstinence or condoms? expert says let youths choose

Anderson Figaro, of the Voice of One Overcomers Club, said the clash was creating casualties among the group they are supposed to be protecting — youths. He said abstinence and condoms both had their shortcomings.

“Abstinence programmes are preaching sexual abstinence. The abstinence being taught in schools is not holistic,” Figaro said.

Figaro explained that although young people may abstain from sexual activity until marriage, this did not guarantee they would always be protected from HIV.

“It does not guarantee the relationship will not have violence, drugs, alcohol. It does not guarantee freedom from fear you will not get the disease.”

He said couples testing negative were finding out about their HIV-positive status after they had two and three children.

Figaro said some youths were abstaining but engaging in other sexual acts such as anal sex. He said factors which made people vulnerable were, use of force by a dominating partner and inability to negotiate with a partner to use a condom. He said “forced sexual activity” was taking place in some marriages.

Figaro said sex was not just an action but a process which could start with someone being under the influence of drugs, the environment and culture of the school.

“Even if youths choose to abstain sexually, are they abstaining from drugs which can induce sexual activity,” Figaro said. Voice of One has provided counselling for students, discussing openly all the challenges in the world of sex. “They tell us they want guidance.

They don’t want anyone to fool them,” Figaro said. He said thirteen year-olds were sexually active and their parents did not know. Figaro said abstinence programmes should not “fight down” condom use. He believes that the infection rate would be higher if not for condom distribution. But he is quick to remind that condom distribution is not the solution. Figaro said the abstinence and condom groups need to work together without subtly discriminating He said the Ministry of Education and Health which are promoting abstinence in schools should present the “truth” to young people. Figaro said young people should be exposed to the right information and shown the consequences of their choices.