Should sex education in the Philippines remain taboo?

Abstract

Sex education is an important topic that is relevant in everyday life activities. However, due to its rare and sensitive connotation, this topic remains to be taboo in the Philippines. With the country having high devotion to Christianity, conversations about sex, sexuality, and sex education are considered inappropriate and sinful. This paper narrates the overview and reflections on a webinar program of occupational therapy students in Pampanga about the relevance of sex education in the youth, school, the occupational therapy profession, and the community. Sex education was discussed in a way that is not limited to sexual intercourse but covered how individual views and expresses themselves through their sexuality. Challenges such as providing sexuality education among children and youth should be provided to decrease teenage pregnancy and sex-related diseases. Schools, families, healthcare institutions, and communities should also be open about sex education to reduce experiences of negative mental health outcomes due to religious prejudice and biases and help the young generation to have lifelong healthy decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.