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Featured : G/wi, Hambukushu, Kgalagari, Nharo, Dobe Ju/’Hoansi, (BA)Katla / (BA)kgatla, Basarwa. Also ®Subiya, ®Tswana, ®Atonga Using data from the 1995 Botswana Adolescent Reproductive Health Survey in conjunction with data from focus group discussions, Meekers and Ahmed (2000)[1] suggest that adolescents become sexually active at an “early” age, and that many of them, males and females alike, have multiple sex partners, facts implying that adolescent reproductive health programmes should target youths aged 13 or younger. According to a 1988 study[2], the median age of female first sexual intercourse was just above 17.
“In bogwera and bojale youth received instruction about sexual activity, sexual taboos, and sociocultural rules during their stays in the initiation camps. In passing through these rites, they were ritually reborn as adult members of society […] Since breast development is still generally assumed by young and older people alike to be a necessary precursor to sexual activity, girls who want to date resist attempts to slow the growth of their breasts […] While changes in dress and diet have allegedly impeded the regular purification and strengthening of children's bodies, early sexual activity is seen as simultaneously depleting youth of their vitality”.
Featured:
G/wi, Hambukushu, Kgalagari, Nharo, Dobe Ju/’Hoansi, (Ba)Katla / (Ba)kgatla, Basarwa. Also ®Subiya, ® Tswana, ® Atonga
Janssen,
D. F., Growing Up Sexually. Last revised: Apr 2005 |
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[1] Meekers, D. & Ahmed, G. (2000)
Contemporary patterns of adolescent sexuality in urban
[2] Women in
[3]