Yasmine Abdulhafeez – Women in Development and Peace
Integrating reproductive health concepts into school curricula represents a vital step towards building a society more aware and appreciative of maternal and child health. This is achieved by guiding young people; their role in disseminating community awareness and changing traditional ideas can be stimulated. This contributes to improving the health of pregnant mothers, promotes birth spacing, and provides necessary care for newborns, ensuring stronger health foundations for future generations and supporting the well-being of families and society as a whole.
Furthermore, promoting a culture of reproductive health in school curricula in Yemen is a crucial step in addressing the widespread lack of awareness, especially in areas lacking the necessary educational infrastructure. Many areas have been deprived of educational facilities for years, leading to a lack of knowledge about reproductive health and the importance of maternal and child health care. Integrating these concepts into education will help create a generation that understands the importance of these aspects, thus contributing to improving overall community health awareness.
The current situation in Yemen clearly shows the impact of rapid population growth on public services; needs exceed the capacity of these services to provide coverage, negatively impacting families, especially poor ones. Closely spaced births increase the burden on families; it becomes difficult to provide the necessary health and educational care for children, leading to neglect of their health, education, and basic rights.
Lack of reproductive health awareness has also led to a high birth rate and the spread of infectious diseases among infants, sometimes resulting in death due to neglect of their health. In addition, there is a spread of diseases among pregnant mothers, including malnutrition, vesicovaginal fistula, and other diseases.
Therefore, the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Education in Yemen should promote a culture of reproductive health within the school curricula, contributing to raising awareness of its importance and supporting the provision of reproductive health services for pregnant women and infants. This effort will help build a society more aware of the importance of healthcare and its role in improving the quality of life for future generations.
Secondary Education Curricula
Dina Abdul-Bari, an educationalist, points out that the integration of reproductive health concepts into school curricula in Yemen is almost absent and has not been given the necessary attention. Education has been limited to literary and scientific subjects, while health aspects, including reproductive health, which should be a priority in the curricula, have been marginalized.
She believes that strengthening reproductive health concepts in education will contribute to establishing health awareness among generations, making them more aware of the health of mothers and newborns, and leading to the emergence of a society that understands the importance of the health and safety of its members.
Faiza Muhammad Husain, the principal of Rawdhat Sabr School, emphasizes the vital importance of strengthening reproductive health concepts in school curricula in disseminating awareness among young men and women, considering them the next generation that will establish family life.
She adds: “If they are introduced to healthy practices at this stage, they will have the ability in the future to establish conscious families capable of contributing to community development.”
Abdu Khameesi, Director General of the Youth and Sports Office in Al-Hodeidah, points out that including reproductive health concepts in educational curricula, especially at the secondary level, is a fundamental step to establishing them in the minds of generations.
He stresses the need to expand the understanding of students about the importance of reproductive health to create a comprehensive community awareness. Khameesi suggests that this concept be part of the school curricula, along with organizing training courses and workshops on reproductive health concepts targeting students.
Hind Sulaiman, a high school teacher, emphasizes the need to raise awareness and educate female students about reproductive health concepts, especially at the secondary level, as most are about to start a family and reproductive lives.
She explains that this awareness can only be achieved through the integration of reproductive health concepts into school curricula, which will enable girls to learn about ways to prevent diseases that may affect mothers and children, in addition to learning about family planning methods and the importance of birth spacing. Thus, a cultured and aware generation in this field can be created.
In the same context, teacher Samia Al-Dhari stresses that integrating reproductive health culture into school curricula, especially at the secondary level, is necessary, given the large number of young men and women who cannot complete their university education for economic or social reasons.
She explains that if they cannot attend university, these young people may marry without sufficient awareness of the importance of providing reproductive health services to pregnant mothers and infants, which negatively affects their lives and health; they see these services as unnecessary.
University Curricula
In this context, Professor Najat Sa’im Khalil, a professor of social psychology, explained that all issues related to reproductive health are already present in Yemeni curricula and are taught to students from primary school, especially in the Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) subject. She continued: “These issues, such as menstruation, postpartum bleeding, and ritual purification, are presented within a religious framework and are defined as things that invalidate ablution and prayer or as impurities.”
She emphasized that if reproductive health concepts were integrated into other subjects, they could be presented from a complementary and expansive perspective, allowing students to obtain comprehensive and accurate information from a reliable source. This integration would help them achieve a deeper understanding of their reproductive health at different stages of their development, thereby enhancing their health and awareness throughout those stages.
Professor Najat Khalil continued: “To simplify this topic, I point to puberty as one of the most important issues in reproductive health. The results of studies we conducted on a sample of adolescents showed that the psychological, physical, and health changes accompanying this stage were a major shock to the vast majority of them due to their ignorance of the nature of these changes. Their approach to them was often incorrect, due to their reliance on friends or social media as sources of information.”
She believes that integrating concepts of psychological and physical changes associated with puberty into school curricula can contribute to educating young people about ways to maintain their health and the health of their families, reducing health risks associated with reproduction and strengthening family and social relationships.
She added: “For a woman to be able to conceive and give birth in a way that preserves her health and the health of her children, everyone, male and female, must understand the importance of caring for her from birth, providing proper nutrition, and caring for her physical and mental health during puberty. This includes ensuring adequate levels of iron and calcium in her body and meeting her needs related to menstruation. Males should also learn how to deal with the physical and psychological changes they experience, in addition to maintaining personal hygiene, contributing to their preparation for parenthood safely.”
She stressed that integrating reproductive health concepts into the curriculum would have a positive impact on individuals and society by promoting public health, psychological stability, and socioeconomic stability, contributing to building a healthy and stable society.
Fawzi Muhammad Al-Shami, a professor of social sciences and social work, said: “Multiple issues constantly surface, and all those concerned want them included in curricula, whether university or school. If we were to limit them, they would overwhelm the core subjects.”
He continued: “Therefore, it is necessary to integrate these issues appropriately. For example, a subject could be created that simulates society and addresses its current issues, becoming a university requirement, or interactive teaching methodologies could be adopted that enhance participation and help change attitudes and behavior. Specializations that serve these issues should also be identified, ensuring their absorption by the job market.”
He points to the importance of reproductive health in Yemeni society, stressing that raising awareness is an investment in the future of generations. Its inclusion in curricula is important, but not sufficient on its own; it also requires the establishment of general social policies that are the main criterion for integrating it into curricula, defining necessary laws, and interventions that will necessitate raising awareness and strengthening commitment.
Academics emphasize the importance of promoting reproductive health concepts from the preparatory and secondary school levels, given its significant role in raising a generation aware of the importance of reproductive health in Yemen. They point to the need to develop specialized curricula in this area, instead of waiting until students reach university to educate and raise their awareness.
Among these academics is Amin Al-A’liani, a professor at Lahj University, who says: “Reproductive health concepts should be promoted, not only at the university level but before that, by including them in the curricula of primary and secondary schools, such as reading classes and others.”
Al-A’liani added: “This aims to educate the largest possible number of girls, who drop out of education more than boys, especially in later stages, such as secondary school or university, due to the conditions the country is going through.”