The distinguished panelists from left to right: Evasius Bauni (Kenya); Augustine Ankomah (Nigeria); Helen Schneider (Chairperson); Hind Khattab (Egypt); and Bev Russell (South Africa).

The Africa Regional Sexuality Resource Centre (ARSRC) hosted a panel on “Research and Capacity Building for the Promotion of Sexual Health and Well-Being” on February 27, 2004 during the First Congress for the Advancement of Sexual Health and Rights in Africa. The Congress took place at the Crowne Plaza Sandton Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa from February 26-28, 2004.

The distinguished ARSRC panelists included the following: Dr. Hind Khattab from Egypt, an anthropologist with over forty years of research and professional experience; Dr. Evasius Bauni, a demographer working with Kenya Medical Research Institute/Wellcome Trust Research Laboratories in Kilifi, Kenya; Dr. Augustine Ankomah, a researcher who currently works in Abuja, Nigeria, with the Society for Family Health and Ms. Bev Russell, Managing Director of Social Surveys (Pty) Ltd who is based in Johannesburg. The Panel was chaired by Helen Schneider, a medical doctor with specialist training in Community Health who currently works in the Centre for Health Policy in the School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Ankomah, analyzing the West Africa situation noted that the paucity of research in the area of sexual health in the sub-region. He observed that, “Until the onset of HIV/AIDS, sexual life in Africa received little attention from serious researchers.”

Supporting the assertion by Ankomah, Khattab noted that in the North Africa region also, more recent focus on the study of sexuality came as a result of concern over the outbreak of AIDS. Naturally the focus tends to be more on disease control, thus relegating the study of sexuality to the physiological and medical domain. Speaking on the status of sexual health in the region, she observed that one of the barriers to improving sexual and reproductive health is the low level of literacy, especially among women, leading to lack of knowledge and awareness about sexual health issues. This, for Khattab is “the most shameful violence” committed against women because it denies women the opportunity to access their rights; even those prescribed by Islam.

A member of the audience stressing a point during the question time.

With emphasis on behaviour change and strategic communication, Russell noted that most of the research designed around sexual health in Southern Africa “tend to be large scale mass media campaigns supplemented by some outreach or social mobilization activities”. She added that because knowledge around positive sexual health practices is contrary to many cultural, religious as well as traditional values and practices, many people, therefore, experience feelings of dissidence regarding these mass media campaigns. To achieve results, she advocated a move towards research that assists “individuals to work out solutions for themselves within their own value system and within a receptive society”. Research gaps identified were in the areas of values, cultures, traditions, beliefs and religion and the ways in which these impact on sexual health and well-being.

Evasius Bauni specifically noted the need for short-term crash programmes (research) targeting sexually active groups as well as long term longitudinal studies targeting children (in the womb and at breast) and continuing to work with the research subjects as they grow and mature. 

The ARSRC also featured an exhibition during the Congress. The First Congress for the Advancement of Sexual Health and Rights in Africa was held under the auspices of the World Association for Sexology (of which the Southern African Sexual Health Association is a member) and co-hosted by the Planned Parenthood Association of South Africa and the African Federation for Sexual Health and Rights.

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