Lessons for life--Past and present modes of sexuality education in Tanzanian society

The provision of sexuality education and contraceptive services to unmarried adolescents has became a key issue in the era of AIDS. International health organizations are promoting action worldwide. In Tanzania the Ministry of Health has started policy work, while the NGO sector is spearheading activities in the field. Yet there is a lot of public scepticism and resistance to launching such programmes, as many believe that these will promote promiscuity among the young. This article explores the efforts of the Family Planning Association of Tanzania (UMATI), collaborating with the Swedish Association of Sex Education (RFSU), to develop appropriate and sensitive programme activities, drawing on the experiences of other countries as well as on local customs tied to traditional initiation rites. Capacity building involving the provision of techniques for training, research, advocacy and outreach has been the focus of the exchange between the two NGOs. The aim has been to take a broad but integrated perspective on the issue, including an understanding of adolescent sexuality as well as that of reproduction. Most of the data presented here were generated during a follow-up study of the UMATI/RFSU collaboration.