Education on sexual practice varies widely in different countries, nations, cultures, and religions. Sexuality is often tied to morals and personal values, in addition to its status as a health topic. Whether a person sees sexuality as natural versus sacred may determine how they view sex education. Under a natural framework, sexuality is a factor of the human experience equal to any other bodily function and should be taught with the same emphasis. When seen as a sacred function, sexuality is placed differently compared to the education of other aspects of bodily function. While this sacredness is widely respected, it may render the subject taboo or limited in educational discussions.
Comprehensive sexual education includes the physical, emotional, intellectual, and social aspects of sexuality and interpersonal relationships/connections, and not just the physical act of sex. Government leaders and parents, in some cultures, believe that early sexual education will lead to earlier sexual activity. However, it is more common that countries with more structured sexual education teaching have lower rates of teenage pregnancy.
In some countries, sexual education is taught extensively in schools, whereas in others, the subject is not allowed in schools. For instance, in the United Kingdom, sexual education is mandatory, but each school varies in how they approach the subject. The emergence of human immuno deficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immuno deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the 1980s in the United States increased demand for sex education beyond abstinence; however, there is still not a federal mandate for sexual education.
In India, sex education is not mandatory in schools, but the Youth Parliament Foundation established in 2002 is increasing information availability, including through one of their campaigns, “know your body, know your rights” (KYBKYR). “What do you think in Uganda?”
Communicating With Patients
Communication across cultures can be challenging to navigate. Discussion of subjects that may be considered sensitive or even taboo can create tension early in the conversation. Counseling patients on their medications can often open the door to crucial conversations about taboo medical subjects. Incorporating culturally sensitive tools of communication can create a high level of impact and improve the dialogue between the pharmacist and patient. Patients will be able to find a safe and open environment to address medication related questions but also extremely important sex education queries. Pharmacists have a pivotal role in global health and patient communication. Using pharmacist-specific communication skills may be the answer to the disparities seen in sex education globally. Pharmacists have a unique ability to address the challenges stated above because they are often accessible to people even in rural areas