Right to Sexual and Reproductive Health Education 2016
topic, especially when it was explained that the entire conversation will be
based on a rights perspective. Even then, differences of opinion and prejudice
regarding some matters rose from the discussion, however most were willing
to voice their opinions and share their experiences regarding SRH thereafter.
9.2 Knowledge of Reproductive and Sexual Health
Knowledge of SRH was minimal among all participants when asked whether
they knew the meaning of reproductive or sexual health. The demographic
form42 given to each participant before starting the discussions included a
section which asked the participants whether they knew the meaning of
reproductive health and sexual health separately. They were instructed to put
a tick if they knew what reproductive and sexual health was and put a cross if
they did not. For the ease of their understanding the corresponding Dhivehi
word for each of the English terms used in the form was given beside it. For
example: reproductive health ‘Ufanvanivi Sihath’ and sexual health ‘Jinsee
Dhulhaheyo kamuge Sihath’.
Most participants stated that they did not know much about the issue,
however, once the discussions began it became evident that some of the
participants were more aware of these issues than they believed at the
beginning of the FGD. Even though the terms were unfamiliar, it was found
that many of the participants were familiar with some of the health issues and
problems related to SRH. When asked to state the issues and problems related
to SRH, almost all of the participants were able to identify AIDS/HIV as a
related problem. Even though the understanding and knowledge varied
among the participants, most of the adults were able to list many of the health
related issues and concerns that can come up during pregnancy, child birth
42
See Annex 3
47
ANALYSIS OF FGDS