Phenomenological Insights into the Impact of a Sexuality Education Programme on Learners' Sexual and Reproductive Health in Rural Areas of South Africa

Sexuality education seeks to provide school-going adolescents with knowledge and skills to help them make better decisions, boost their self-efficacy, and ultimately improve their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes. However, due to prevailing contextual factors, school-based sexuality education is thought to have a limited impact on the SRH of learners living in rural areas compared to those living in urban and semi-urban areas. This study explored the learners' lived experiences with sexuality education in rural South Africa in 2020. Focus group interviews were conducted with 84 learners who were purposively sampled from nine schools. An interpretative phenomenological analysis framework was used to analyse the data from the interviews. The findings revealed that sexuality education's impact on adolescents includes reduced teenage pregnancy, reduced sexually transmitted infections, and increased self-awareness, while others felt it encourages risky sexual activities. This study recommends interventions to enhance sexuality education programmes in the research setting.