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Determinants of Knowledge in Relation to Sexual and Reproductive Health of Adolescents in the Middle East and North Africa Region

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Adolescent Health in the Middle East and North Africa

Part of the book series: Global Perspectives on Health Geography ((GPHG))

Abstract

One in five people in the Middle East and North Africa region is an adolescent. Adolescents become sexually active without accurate information on sexual and reproductive health (SRH). The current study aimed to explore how adolescents learn about SRH in MENA, patterns and consequences of sexual behavior of adolescents in MENA, and how Islam can help in tackling these shortcomings. Information was drawn from existing reviews of literature. There is lack of SRH education at schools, and parents/adults often have difficulty talking with adolescents about SRH owing to embarrassment or ignorance. Adolescents count on information from the Internet, which are often inaccurate. The Internet also comes with easy accessibility to online pornography with its impact on adolescent SRH being more likely to engage in at-risk sexual behavior for HIV. Islam encourages education about matters related to sex in a way that informs young people about sexuality in scientific and moral terms, and Quran has placed emphasis on acquiring knowledge. The culture of silence in the MENA countries considers sex a taboo to be addressed only before marriage. The controversial nature of educating young people about SRH is not a result of Islamic doctrine but rather the result of cultural sexual taboos misinterpreted as grounded in Islam. The Western approach to adolescent SRH should be tailored and culturally adapted to the MENA region because of the differences in history, religion, and culture. Adolescent SRH education programs should also benefit from the popularity of social media.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Comprehensive knowledge of HIV means knowing that consistent use of condoms during sexual intercourse and having just one uninfected faithful partner can reduce the chance of getting the AIDS virus, knowing that a healthy-looking person can have the AIDS virus, and rejecting two common local misconceptions about transmission or prevention of the AIDS virus.

  2. 2.

    Record of the traditions or sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, revered and received as a major source of religious law and moral guidance.

  3. 3.

    Holy book of Islam.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Independent Reproductive Health Consultant, Cairo, Egypt

    Doaa Oraby

Authors
  1. Doaa Oraby
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, ON, Canada

    Caroline Barakat

  2. Zayed University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

    Rania Dghaim

  3. Zayed University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    Fatme Al Anouti

Reflection Questions

Reflection Questions

  • Is adolescent reproductive and sexual health still a low priority in MENA despite the heightened vulnerability of adolescents caused by economic decline, civil war, lack of accurate knowledge, and easy accessibility to online pornography?

  • How will the HIV epidemic in MENA region progress given the economic decline, war, and civil unrest? (The region hosts the largest number of refugees and displaced people, many of whom live below the poverty line and resort to risky behaviors.)

  • Do we have to adopt the Western approach to adolescent sexual and reproductive health as is? (The HIV harm reduction interventions were tailored and culturally adapted to the MENA region.)

  • How does Islam perceive education of adolescents about matters related to sex?

  • How can we tackle the controversial nature of educating young people about SRH being not a result of Islamic doctrine but rather the result of cultural sexual taboos?

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Oraby, D. (2022). Determinants of Knowledge in Relation to Sexual and Reproductive Health of Adolescents in the Middle East and North Africa Region. In: Barakat, C., Dghaim, R., Al Anouti, F. (eds) Adolescent Health in the Middle East and North Africa. Global Perspectives on Health Geography. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-92107-1_6

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