Abstract
Sexual education during adolescence is a crucial element to personal development, not solely for the purpose of reducing the prevalence of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, but more importantly for the promotion of sexual awareness and overall empowerment. This paper explores the difficulties and contradictions faced by adolescents in Ecuador concerning the formation of a responsible sexual identity. The lack of comprehensive sexual education paired with cultural, social, and economic obstacles have led to an alarming rate of pregnancy in adolescence. Utilizing interviews conducted by the author in Cuenca, Ecuador and information collected regarding governmental proposals and initiatives, this paper highlights the importance of a rights-based approach toward adolescent sexuality and grassroots organizations as catalysts for social change.
How to Cite
Stahl, G., (2012) “Sexual Education and Adolescent Sexuality: Programs and Initiatives in Cuenca, Ecuador”, Capstone, The UNC Asheville Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship 25(2).
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