Youth Converse on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Through Weekly Podcast

While conversations around sexual and reproductive health have been viewed as a sensitive topic in many Namibian cultures, there is a growing demand for sexuality education and services as it is an important part of every person’s life. According to Taris (2000), Sexuality education is a lifelong process of acquiring information and forming attitudes, beliefs, and values about identity, relationships and intimacy. It encompasses sexuality development, reproductive health, interpersonal relationships, affection, intimacy, body image, and gender roles. It also addresses the biological, socio-cultural, psychological, and spiritual dimensions of sexuality from the cognitive domain (information), the affective domain (feelings, values, and attitudes), and the behavioural domain (communication and decision-making skills).

“Some of the biggest challenges when it comes to Sexual, Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in Namibia is the manner in which the services are delivered to young people. Not all localities deliver youth-friendly services related to SRHR. While in some areas of the country, it's a concern of accessibility - there have been efforts to bring mobile clinics in remote areas, the consistency around this in terms of how often they come back remains a concern”, narrated Selma Ndasilohenda Iyambo, a 21-year-old Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies final-year student at the University of Namibia who is the brainchild behind Sex Talks Podcast. 

Sex Talks Podcast is a digital platform where young people openly discuss sexual health matters without fear of judgment in a youthful manner. The platform brings together young people to share their stories and openly ask questions related to SRHR. It also brings in experts from the field who are able to break down information to address some of the concerns raised on air.

Selma implored it upon herself to ensure that information and access to services on SRHR reach the youth so they can make better-informed decisions and avoid negative health outcomes. She further noted that the response from the youth has been positive, “we have received views and listens from more than five (5) African countries and the feedback has been amazing as it proved that there was indeed a need for a platform of this nature because many young people found it very relatable and kept giving recommendations on what to engage on next”. The creative manner in which the conversations on Sex Talk Podcast take form, is one of the means through which Selma has been able to keep the young people glued and engaged in various topics related to SRHR. 

Selma advocates for Comprehensive Sexuality Education to be included in the school curriculum, as she is of the belief that it could serve as a platform that ensures youth are provided with comprehensive information for informed decision-making to address the social stigma around sexual health conversations and services. In conclusion, Selma gave examples on the issue of affordability of SRHR services, “there was an article published in The Namibian newspaper about how young people detailed their experiences with Depo – Provera,  a hormonal medication commonly used as a method of birth control which is mostly administered to older women but because of availability and affordability, some young people resort to taking it – with severe side effects, because it's the only form of contraception available at some state clinics".

UNESCO, through the 03 PLUS project is working with Sex Talks Podcast to reach more young people in institutions of higher learning in Namibia. The 03 Plus project seeks to ensure that young people in Southern Africa are informed about their Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights. Through this partnership, Sex Talks Podcast produces a series of episodes that help young people in institutions of higher learning realize their sexual health rights in order to excel to their full educational abilities and avoid negative health outcomes such as unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases to name a few that have the potential to destroy their career paths.