The content of this presentation is the sole responsibility of Save the Children and Juzoor and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.

This project is funded by the European Union.

We have spoken to

137 children 10-18 years old, 92 girls and 45 boys

• Also 157 parents• And people working with children, for example teachers, health workers, counselors, and social workers

To know what?

Knowledge

Attitudes

Practices

Violence

Personal

Hygiene

Changes during puberty

Marriage, engageme

nt and childbirth

HIV/AIDS and

other STI’s

We wanted to know about

What we’ve learned

Personal hygiene

Once a week or less

Twice a week

Every other day

Once a day

How often do you take a bath?

%

Mother Father Teacher Sister Brother

Children!Who do you ask when you have questions about personal hygiene?

Some children don’t know where

to go for information!

Girls

Boys

%

Changes during puberty

Children!How many physical changes

that happen during puberty do you know of?

Girls

Boys

or more

%

Girls

Boys

Girls!What physical changes do you know of

that happen to your body during puberty?

Don’t know

Breast start to grow

More hair grows on body

Growing taller

Body gets more muscles

Hips grow wider

Menstruation starts

Oily skin & pimples

One starts to sweat more

Almost all of the service providers can tell of at least three different changes.

Girls have slightly better knowledge than their parents about this.

%

Boys!What physical changes do you know of

that happen to your body during puberty?

%

Don’t know

More hair grows on body

Voice changes

One grows taller & gains weight

Body becomes more muscled

Broadening of shoulders

Changes in sex organs

Oily skin & pimples

One starts to sweat more

About 9 in 10 service providers know of at least three different changes.

Parents have slightly less knowledge of the changes in boys than of the changes in girls.

%

13

Changes in girls

Adults!How many physical changes that

happen in children during puberty do you know of?

Changes in boys

or more 3 or more

Parents

Health Workers

Other ServiceProviders

3 or more

%

Children!How many worries and problems do you know of, that one

might start facing during puberty?

or more

Parents

Health WorkersOther service providers

Parents & Service Providers!How many worries and problems do you know of, that children might start facing during puberty?

%

or more

%

Note, see note section

Don’t know

There are none

Stomach cramps

Wet dreams

Feeling tired, fatigued

Eating too much

Get sad or depressed

Get angry or irritated

Cannot concentrate on

study

Feeling shy or timid

Children

Healh Workers

Other service providers

Parents

What worries & problems do you know of?

%

Summary - puberty

There are many girls and boys who don’t know that much about the different physical changes that happen to our body during puberty.

Almost half of all children don’t know of any of the worries and problems that one might start facing during puberty.

Also the parents don’t have that good of knowledge of the physical changes, and even less knowledge of the different worries and problems.

Service providers do have quite good knowledge of the physical changes, but not too good about the different worries and problems.

Why is this knowledge important?

Knowledge of HIV/AIDS and other STI’s

19

Children!How many

Sexually Transmitted Infectionsdo you know of?

or more

14% of the parents didn’t know of any STI, and a bit more than half of them only knew about one.

Service providers know of more than children and parents do and 83% of them know of at least three or more.

Sexually Transmitted

InfectionAn infection one can

get by having sex

Children & their knowledge of STI:s

Of the children who do know about an infection, the most common to know about is

HIV/AIDS (59% of all children).

Only a very few children know about

• Chlamydia • Gonorrhea•Syphilis•Thrush• Pubic lice• Hepatitis B & C

None of the children know about

• Genital warts• Genital herpes

Adults & their knowledge of STI:s

Also amongst the adults the most common STI to know about is HIV/AIDS.

All of the service providers we have spoken to and 82% of all parents

mentioned this.

13-16% of the parents know about Hepatitis B, Gonorrhea & Syphilis. Very few know of the

other STI:s. Health workers are the most

knowledgeable, still there are several STI:s not many of them know about.

Amongst the other service providers, there are several

STI:s many of them have not heard of.

Children!How many symptoms or signs do you know of, that could tell

if a person has gotten an STI?

Of the service providers, more than 70% know of three symptoms or more.

61% of all parents don’t know of any symptoms!

Almost 8 of 10 children don’t know

of any sign at all!

or more

23

Children!How many of you have heard about HIV/AIDS?

%

10-12 years old

13-15 years old

16-18 years old

More girls than boys have heard

about it

Yes No

Children!

How many ways to get infected with HIV do you know of?

More girls than boys know of no symptoms at all!

10-12 years old

13-15 years old

16-18 years old

or more

%

Adults & their knowledge of HIV/Aids

All of the service providers we have spoken to and 90% of all parents

have heard about HIV/AIDS.

6% of the parents don’t know of any way to get

infected.

43% know of at least three ways.

Amongst the health workers, 21% know of only two ways to

get infected.

Amongst the other service providers, 11% only know of two ways to get

infected.

26 %

Don’t know

Sexual relations

Sharing syringes

Unclean medical equipment

Blood transfusion

Mother to child

Mosquito or other insect bites

Breast milk

Casual contact with infected

person

Other way to get infected

Children

ParentsHealth WorkersOther service providers

!?!?!

!?!

%

Which ways to get infected with HIV do you know of?

Children!How many ways of

avoiding to get infected with HIV do you know of?

or more

More boys than girls know of three ways or

more!

10-12 years old

13-15 years old

16-18 years old

Almost all service providers know of at least three

different ways.

Amongst parents, only 35% know of at least three

ways.

%

or more

28%

Not having sexat all

Be faithfulto partner

Encourage partner to be

faithful

Avoid contaminated

blood

Always use a condom

Not sharing syringes

Not sharing razors and

blades

Avoid prostitutes

Not having casual sex

Avoid casual contact with

infected person

Other suggestion

Don’t know

Which ways of avoiding to get infected with HIV do you know

of?

Children

Parents

Health Workers

Other Service Providers!?!?

! %

Summary – STI:s, HIV/AIDS 39% of all children don’t know of any STI, and half of all children only know about 1.

79% children don’t know of any symptoms.

The knowledge amongst service providers is quite good, although there are still several STI:s that they don’t know of.

Amongst parents not many of them know of more than 1 and some don’t know of any.

61% of the parents don’t know of any symptoms.

Not many of the younger children have heard of HIV/AIDS.

Many children of all ages lack knowledge regarding ways to get infected, and ways to protect oneself from getting infected.

Also amongst the parents many of them lack this knowledge, and also some amongst the service providers. Why is this knowledge important?

Engagement, marriage & childbirth

Children & parents!

In your opinion, when is the best age to get engaged for girls and boys?

% %According to children

Don’t know

Max.

Best age for girls

Best age for boys

Don’t know

According to parents

Don’t know

According to parents

Best age for girls

Best age for boys

According to children

% %

Don’t know

Children & parents!

In your opinion, when is the best age to get married for girls and boys?

33

About engagement and marriage

Almost 8 times more boys than girls, thought that the best age for a girl to get engaged is when she is older than 25.

More than twice as many boys than girls, thought that the girl should be at least 25 when marrying.

More mothers than fathers think that the girl should be at

least 18 years old when getting engaged or married.Many children, parents and service providers

think that the girls should engage and

marry earlier than what boys should do.

Boys

Girls

Fathers

Mothers

Service Providers

Don’t knowNo Yes

What about education?Should children under 18 who are

married continue with their education?

%

Children!When is the best age to have one’s

first child?

More boys than girls think the

best age is 25 or more!

Don’t know

Pregnancy & child birthDo you think this should be

avoided during adolescence?

Don’t know

Children

Parents

Serviceproviders

Yes No

%

45%Children

35%Parents

13%Service

ProvidersOf the ones who do think

pregnancy and child birth should be avoided during adolescence, still don’t know of the reasons

why!

About the complications

Several parents and service providers think that an adolescent is not capable to care for a child.

Very few children know about premature birth, bleeding, low birth weight, mental and physical disabilities in the children.

Not many children know about still birth, spontaneous abortion, maternal death and high level of childhood illness.

Also amongst parents there is an alarming lack of knowledge!

Several children and also some parents

even think there are no negative effects at

all!

Summary – engagement, marriage and child birth

• Many children, parents and service providers think that the girl should engage and marry earlier than what the boy should do.

• Although most children, parents and service providers do think that children under 18 should continue their education also if they are married or engaged, there are still some who don’t agree with this.

• Many children, parents and almost all service providers, think that pregnancy and child birth should be avoided during adolescence. Still there are many of them who don’t know of the reasons to why.

• 45% of the children don’t know of any of these reasons.

What do we think of this?

Violence towards children

YES! 90% Parents

84% Children

90% Service Providers

This also means that a lot of

children have to witness violence!

Is there violence against children 10-17 years, in your community?

12345

At home from adults (71%)

In the neighborhood between youth themselves (65%)

At school from other students (55%)

At home from siblings (41%)

At school from teachers (37%)

Where does the violence towards children take place?

According to the service providers

94% of all children

agrees with this statement!

I HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIVE WITHOUT

ANY KIND OF VIOLENCE!

92% of all children agree!

“I have the responsibility to make sure I don’t hurt

others!”

96%children don’t agree with this!

“It is appropriate for a husband to hit his wife,

or for a brother to hit his sister!”

%

Hitting with a hand

Hitting with an object

Shaking

Pulling child’s hair

Burning with hot water,

match, cigarette

Forcing child to stay in

uncomfort -able position

Forcing child to take excessive

physical exercise

Children

Parents

ServiceProviders

This shows how many that do not consider these forms as physical abuse!

Violence against ChildrenPhysical abuse

Bad name calling

Shouting

Saying to the child “No one

loves you”

Locking child into a space all

alone

Threatening

Parents abandoning

child

Neglecting child’s

emotional needs

%

Children

Parents

This shows how many that do not consider these forms as emotional and psychological abuse!

Violence against ChildrenEmotional & Psychological abuse

Violence against ChildrenSexual abuse

%

This is how many who do not

think these are forms of sexual abuse!

Children

Parents

ServiceProviders

Touching a child’s private parts

Making child touch owns’ or someone

else’s private parts

Having sex with a child

Showing child magazines/ films with pictures of naked or almost

naked people

Telling child “dirty” stories or

jokes

BoysGirlsParentsService Providers

Father Uncle Neighbor Stranger, OtherBrother Friend Boyfriend (male) Don’t know

Who do you think is the perpetrator of sexually abusing children?

%

Children! How many strategies do you know of, to protect yourselves from violence?

or more

%

Girls know of some more

strategies than the boys do

Most known

•Tell a grown-up you trust (39%)•Run or get away (29%)• Yell (18%)•Say “No” (14%)

Least known

•Not taking gifts in exchange for doing something you are uncomfortable with (1%)• Learn more about violence against children through internet, books etc (1%)• Keep emergency numbers (3%)• Call a child helpline (3%)

Children and protection strategies against violence

And some children don’t know of any!

Summary – violence

The vast majority of all children agree that they have the right to live without any kind of violence, and that they have a responsibility to make sure they don’t hurt others.

Yet most people agree that there is violence in their communities against children 10-17 years!

According to the service providers, most violence occurs at home from adults.

Almost all children don’t think it’s right for a husband to hit his wife, or a brother to hit his sister.

Amongst service providers it is more common to think of the perpetrator of sexual abuse as a close family member, but not many children think so. Many people seem to have different opinions about this. Not many people seem to think of women as the perpetrator.

There are many forms of violence and abuse that are not always recognized as such.

31% of all children don’t know of any protection strategy against violence, and 43% only know of one.

What do we think of this?

Knowing whom to ask – and daring to ask!Sources of information upon SRHR

Children!Who would you ask for advice regarding

sexual & reproductive health?

%

Boys

Girls

Teacher

Mother

Father

Sibling

Friend

Gynecologist/doctor

Relative

Health Center

Psychosocial

counselor

Still, many children have not asked neither parents nor teachers about these matters.

A few children wouldn’t ask anyone, or they wouldn’t know whom to speak to.

%

Boys

Girls

More mothers than fathers think they have good enough

knowledge.

83% health workers and 61% other

service providers think they have good enough knowledge.

Don’t know

No

Yes

Parents!Do you consider yourself having enough knowledge

to be able to give advice on reproductive health?

74% got an answer from the teacher.

92% got an answer from the parents!

17% were refused an answer from the

teacher, 8% from the parents

9% got scolded from the teacher, but nobody got

scolded from their parents

Children!Of those of you who have asked a teacher or parent questions

related to sexual and reproductive health, how did it go?

Asking questions about sexual and reproductive health

Many health centers have services related to sexual and reproductive health, and several

children go there.

For example, some children go there for• Education sessions• Screenings for STI’s• Psychosocial counseling

Although, 28% say they don’t visit the health centers for these topics – the main reason being that they don’t know what services are available.

Almost all service providers had been approached by children in the last month concerning sexual and reproductive health.

Children!In your opinion, when should education on

reproductive and sexual health start?

Before age of puberty

84% of all children think you should discuss in

the classroom, matters relating to sexual and reproductive health.

More fathers than mothers think they have good enough

knowledge.

The ones not agreeing with this, either don’t

think there is a need for it or they think youth

might be embarrassed talking about these

topics.

91% of all parents think these topics should be included in the school program. 86% of these

think it should start before the age of 16.

Don’t know

OtherWhen one’s getting ready for marriage

During puberty

Before age of puberty

58

Most children would go to their parents when wanting advice regarding sexual and reproductive health.

31% of all parents don’t think they have enough knowledge to be able to give advice.

Although the majority who asked a parent or teacher did get an answer, a few children were refused an answer or even got scolded from the teacher.

Many children do visit health centers, but 28% children say they don’t – main reason being they don’t know what services are available.

84% of children think you should discuss SRH in the classroom.

More than half of the children think education on SRH should start during puberty, and 23% think it should start before that. Also 91% parents think these topics should be included in school, and most of them think it should start before the age of 16.

What do you think of this?

SummarySources of information

We have rights!

To know more about our bodies and health!

To understand some things before they happen, and things related to our body and health!

To be acquainted with my body and the body of the other person,

including our reproductive organs!

We have rights!

So that we can protect ourselves and enjoy health!

So that we can feel comfortable with ourselves, be confident and

have self-confidence!

So that we can feel good about our bodies, and be able to

appreciate – respect – protect – and safeguard it!

We have rights!

To obtain information and sex education and moral support!

From where will we get this information?

What can we do to make sure we can claim our rights?

The content of this presentation is the sole responsibility of Save the Children and Juzoor and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.

This project is funded by the European Union.

This is a child friendly version of the baseline report for occupied Palestine territories on

Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights of Children and AdolescentsBaseline Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) Survey(Nathalie Bavitch, MPH, September 2010)

Presentation produced by Sabina EspSave the Children SwedenRegional Office for Middle East and North AfricaApril 2012

This presentation is produced within the project

“Protecting Adolescents from Gender Based Violence through the Promotion of their Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights”.

For more information please visit:

http://mena.savethechildren.se

www.juzoor.org