Mafeteng– Parents in Mafeteng have been urged to create a welcoming environment where children can freely discuss sexual and reproductive health concerns, as fear of parental anger and judgment is discouraging some young people from seeking guidance.
Speaking in an interview, Mrs. Mokhants’o Tohlang, a nurse at the Adolescent Health Corner, expressed concern over the high rate of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among young people in Mafeteng, saying this may indicate that some youth are engaging in unprotected sex.
Mrs. Tohlang said it is high time parents communicate openly with their children about health issues.
She further advised parents to meet their children at their level of understanding, saying anger and harsh reactions can make young people afraid to discuss issues related to sex and sexual health.
Mrs.Tohlang also stressed the importance of educating young people about normal and abnormal discharges and helping them understand the difference between symptoms associated with STIs and those that may result from poor hygiene or bacterial infections.
“Äpproach conversations with your children as adults rather than treating them as young children, make them comfortable enough so that they seek clarity on issues that they do not understand,” Mrs. Tohlang encouraged noting that young people today face different challenges from those experienced by previous generations.
She urged parents to create a welcoming environment where children feel free to discuss sensitive issues without fear of anger or punishment.
“I advise parents to create a welcoming environment where their children will feel free to talk to them without fear of anger, to avoid those seeking help in the wrong places,” she said.
Meanwhile, Teboho Mathe said young people are often afraid to discuss sex and sexual health with their parents because parents may become angry when such issues are raised.
She said this makes it difficult for them to seek guidance at home, leaving them uncertain about who to approach when they have questions or concerns.
Ms. Mathe added that some young people are also afraid to visit hospitals or clinics because they do not know how to explain their health problems to healthcare workers.
She said fear of being judged, makes it difficult in describing their symptoms and that discourage them from seeking health services and information when needed.
Most public health facilities have adolescent corner housed in their facilities to enable easy access of sexual and other health related issues with youth.
Ends/MMK
