The Implementation and Effectiveness of Sexuality Education Programs in Schools in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

In 2013, 17% of adolescent boys aged 15-19 years and 7% of adolescent girls aged 15-19 years had had at least two sexual partners. A 2015 study in Kinshasa also showed that 67% of young persons aged 14-19 (76% boys, 60% girls) were sexually active. About 33% of these young people reported symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the past year. Only 34% of sexually active adolescents (30% girls, 39% boys) reported current use of modern contraception while 50% percent of sexually active girls reported at least one pregnancy and 30% reported at least one abortion. DRC schools have been implementing standalone, school-based sexuality education courses to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among youth and adolescents since 1970.
This study aims to describe the implementation of these programs in Kinshasa. It also identifies differences in outcomes between the national sexuality education curriculum and other existing curricula.

This report was made possible with the contribution of Jacques B. O. Emina, with support from Léon Mudubu Konande of the Population and Health Research Institute (PHERI); Chimaraoke Izugbara and Njora Hungi (formerly of APHRC); Nadia Lobo Jive; and Josué Begu Mbolipay.