Sexual and Reproductive Health Education for Students: Time to Draw the Line for the Deer to Run in the Right Direction

Sexual, reproductive and sexual health education for students is a regular activity of Dai Nam University to equip them with knowledge and skills to care for and protect themselves; helping young people avoid temptations and pitfalls when studying away from home. Not only is it systematically equipped at the beginning of courses during the new student integration week, this activity also continues to be widely spread in the school's Faculties throughout the time students study at the school in many different ways. "Communication and education workshop on reproductive health care, sexual health for students" of the Nursing Faculty is one of such programs.

The program was attended by: Dr. Le Thi Thanh Huong - representative of the Board of Directors; Board of Directors, staff, lecturers of the Nursing Faculty. Especially, there was the participation of more than 300 students from the faculties of Dai Nam University.

Unforeseeable consequences when students have unsafe sex

Speaking at the program, Dr. Le Thi Thanh Huong said: “Education on reproductive health and sexual health has been implemented very well by Dai Nam University during the first week of civic activities for first-year students and students of all courses throughout the study period. This is a practical and necessary lesson for students, especially during the period of falling in love quickly, getting into bed early, getting married quickly and becoming parents at a playful age.”

Through the Nursing Faculty Workshop, Dr. Le Thi Thanh Huong hopes that young people will have a direct view of the unpredictable consequences of unsafe and unhealthy sex. Specifically:

Regarding health: Many complications that are harmful to health from abortion are dangerous such as: infection, hemorrhage, retained placenta, uterine perforation, ectopic pregnancy, infertility.

Mentally: Anxiety, mental crisis, having the other person doubt your self-worth; Mental pressure when facing problems when having to effectively resolve the issue of "getting your girlfriend pregnant".

Long-term consequences: Risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases such as urethritis, HIV/AIDS, genital warts, gonorrhea... when not fully equipped with knowledge; interrupted learning process if pregnant, pressure from social norms; Not enough knowledge, courage, finance to take care of a small family...

"It's time to draw a path for the deer to run in the right direction, we cannot let the deer go astray," Dr. Le Thi Thanh Huong emphasized.

Dr. Le Thi Thanh Huong highly appreciated the Communication and Education Workshop on Reproductive Health and Sexual Health of the Nursing Faculty.

Understand contraception and sexually transmitted diseases

At the program, MSc. Le Van Duy - Head of Nursing Department shared directly about: Anatomical structure, physiology of male and female reproductive organs; Proper genital hygiene, especially before and after sexual intercourse; Conception process, contraceptive measures, prevention of sexually transmitted diseases...

Accordingly, there are many ways to prevent pregnancy such as: methods to identify the time of conception, spermicides, condoms, vaginal diaphragms, birth control pills, contraceptive patches, IUDs... However, the 3 most popular methods used by young people are: condoms, daily birth control pills and emergency contraceptive pills.

MSc. Le Van Duy reminded: “Do not abuse emergency contraceptive pills. Do not use more than 2 times in 1 month and 3 times in 1 year to avoid affecting fertility. It is best to use condoms during sex to both prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.”

MSc. Le Van Duy shares about birth control methods for students.

MSc. Le Van Duy also gives some ways to prevent sexually transmitted diseases:

• Practice safe, healthy sex. Don't have multiple sexual partners at the same time.
• Use condoms correctly during sex.
• Use only percutaneous injection tools such as syringes, tattooing tools, etc.
• Do not have sex while drunk or under the influence of drugs.
• Clean genitals properly before and after sex.
• Hepatitis B and HPV vaccination.
• See a doctor immediately if you suspect you have a sexually transmitted infection.

The Faculty of Nursing conducts a minigame called “wearing a raincoat properly” to help students understand how to use condoms.

What should we do to protect ourselves from the temptation to "cross the line"?

Faced with the reality that many girls worry: "If you don't "give" they will be abandoned by their boyfriends" , "Boys don't like to use condoms because they lose the feeling of realness" ... Ms. Hoang Thi Van - Lecturer of Nursing Faculty shared: "Don't be afraid of being abandoned if you don't meet the other person's requirements, but be afraid that you won't protect yourself well enough to cause unpredictable consequences".

Ms. Hoang Thi Van reminded young people to love purely, not to “cross the line” when love is not mature enough; to be steadfast and have the skills to refuse sexual requests; to ensure safety in cyberspace, absolutely not to take sensitive photos or videos as souvenirs… Above all, young people need to identify and enhance their self-worth; not to lose their value because of the temptation to “cross the line”.

When encountering problems, you should share with your teachers for advice and solutions to avoid abortion, which can affect your psychology and health.

"Be smart, brave young people, responsible for yourself, your family, society and most of all, the creatures you created," Ms. Hoang Thi Van emphasized.

Ms. Hoang Thi Van emphasized: "Don't forget to protect yourself because of promises or to satisfy other people's needs."

Y My Tam – a student of class DD 16.01 shared: “Through the program, I learned more knowledge and skills to take care of and protect myself. I think this is a practical and meaningful program that needs to be widely spread so that students are more aware of building relationships, protecting themselves, their families and society…”

The Health Education Communication Workshop on Reproductive Health and Sexual Health of the Faculty of Nursing was a success, bringing many useful lessons to students. In the coming time, the Faculty will continue to organize many health education programs for students, helping them gain more skills to care for and protect themselves and those around them.

BTT