The Vulnerability of the Caribbean Region

IntroductionIn the Caribbean sexuality is omnipresent, it is seen but not heard. The Caribbean region can be characterized as a dualistic society. On the one side, sexuality is embraced and highly visible, manifesting itself in the culture of the music, dance, and the popular Carnival. The other side presents a society that is conservative and inhibiting, one that is heavily influenced by religion. There is a lack of communication regarding sexuality, both within the schools and the homes making it very challenging for parents to be open with their children on the subject matter.It is ironic that in societies where adolescents can legally have sex at 16 years of age, that abstinence is promoted and conversations about reproductive issues, pregnancy, contraception and sexually transmitted diseases are minimally addressed by parents. This makes adolescents highly vulnerable because they are ill informed and unable to make healthy sexual decisions to positively impact themselves and the nation on a whole.Sexuality is pivotal to the health of a nation. The result of healthy sexuality are citizens that are comfortable with themselves and able to make informed and responsible decisions, form healthy relationships, and take care of their bodies. In contrast, when sexuality is limited or not fully addressed issues such as teen pregnancy, STIs and HIV/AIDS become issues not only to the individual, but also to the nation. The beliefs and practices developed as an adolescent continue into adulthood making the nation/Caribbean region vulnerable.Compounding the issue of open-discussions is the definition most people use when discussing sexuality. Sexuality is a word that brings mental imagery of sexual behavior, practices and orientation. A limited view, but also limiting in addressing the needs of a community, as sexuality is a term that is more inclusive and includes concepts such as body image, gender, human growth and development, human reproduction, relationships, pregnancy, sexual attitudes and values, domestic harmony, sexual health, and contraception. As sexuality is a concept that is integral to the values of a family, parents should be the primary educator of their children with respect to sexuality. Often times the topic is not fully addressed nor is it fully understood. Parents not only need resources and support, they also need a comfort level to have open discussions with their children.Does conservatism and religion guide this phenomenon? What is a better path to address the topic?As part of an effort to standardize the information regarding sexuality United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) commissioned the development of a sexual education curriculum called "Health and family life education" (HFLE), which begins in elementary school and continues through high school. The issue with HFLE is that there is no connection with risky health behaviors, such as alcohol and drug consumption and violence with sexuality. …