A Kiribati youth representative says parents need to open up to their sons about safe sex.
Pacific Ministers and MPs gathered in New Zealand to share ideas about engaging men in reproductive and sexual health initiatives.
A family planning youth representative from Kiribati, David Kakiakia, says religious beliefs are preventing parents from passing on vital information about sexual reproductive health, or SRH, to their children.
"If a parent talks to their child about SRH it's like they're encouraging them to have sex with anyone. It objects their church beliefs and what I found was that I grew up without knowing at what age I could make someone pregnant and things happen, and we don't want to be responsible for what happened."
David Kakiakia says boys need to be educated at an early age to prevent unwanted pregnancies and promote safe sex practices.
Kiribati boys playing Photo: RNZI Walter Zweifel
