Let's talk about Love, sex and relationships

We form relationships as soon as we are born with parents, siblings and family.
As we move outside the home, school or neighbourhood, friends may become
important. As we get older new relationships such as teacher-student, employer-
employee, are formed. A relationship involves a connection between people and
although we come into contact with many people in our daily lives only a few
encounters will result in relationships or friendships. Some people have many
relationships, a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, and others prefer only a
few close friends.

Key Messages:
 We form relationships from the moment we are born and as we age, the
relationships we form evolve
 Healthy relationships can be characterised by closeness, respect, good
communication, shared goals/beliefs, shared interests and affection.
 Love is a feeling (emotional) whereas sex is a behaviour. There are many
ways of showing love that do not involve sex and there are also ways of being
physically close without having sex.

Social Norms and Peer Pressure related to Dating and Youth
Some teens may feel pressure to date from friends. There is no set age or time to
start dating. Many people do not start dating until they have finished school
because other things are more important to them such as their school work, a
sport they enjoy or just hanging out with a group of friends. The media may
present images of couples in movies, TV shows and advertising putting forward
the idea that everyone is dating. These representations are not realistic.
Relationship Characteristics
Some important characteristics of a healthy romantic/sexual/intimate relationship
are:

Closeness
 You are caring and loyal.
 You trust your partner.
 You share your feelings.
 You support your partner during illness or during stressful times.

Shared Goals and Beliefs
 You share beliefs and values.
 You recognize and respect differences in each other.

Shared Experiences
 You share common interests and friends/acquaintances.
 You talk about your experiences and accept and respect each other’s
individual interests.

Communication
 You are honest with each other.
 You listen to each other.

Respect
 You use respectful language and do not act in ways that demean your
partner.
 You understand your partner’s wishes and feelings.
 You are ready to compromise—to meet your partner halfway.

Affection
 You show your partner you care.
 You show each other affection in many ways.

Comments

Family Planning in Eswatini

Family Planning in Eswatini Family Planning is the ability of an individual or couple to plan their family size, birth intervals of their children, when to start and stop having children through the use of family planning methods that are safe, effective, accessible and acceptable. These include both modern and natural family planning methods. Eswatini Family Planning programme is by far one of the leading programmes in Africa as there are proportionally more currently married women who are using modern methods of contraception than in other countries. In 2014, the Contraceptive Prevalence Rate reached 66% thereby putting the country on the same spot as Zimbabwe with the highest CPR in the continent. Despite these tremendous achievements by the government, inequalities in terms of access to Family Planning continue to exist among different groups of women particularly younger and vulnerable women. According to MICS 2014, younger women aged 20-24 and older women ...

Extending the Arm of Health (ETAH)

Extending the Arm of Health (ETAH) FLAS strive to provide integrated Sexual and Reproductive Health services through the static clinics and outreach sites prioritizing young people aged 10-24 as a primary target and adults above 24 years as its secondary target group. In an effort to expand service provision, the Association also focus on enabling other partners through service provision, capacity building and mentoring. The Family Life Association of Eswatini strategic plan 2016 -2020 stresses particular attention in reaching out to a number of people with SRHR services and information. The Association pledged and committed to provide over 2 million qualities integrated SRH services delivered by FLAS volunteers, staff and partners. This is because integrated SRHR and HIV service delivery remain the core function of the institution and this is enabled and done through static clinics and outreach activities with mobile clinic. Rational for Integrated SRHR and HIV services Among ...

SAfAIDS Statement Commemorating International Safe Abortion Day International 28th September 2018

As 28th September is commemorated globally, SAfAIDS recognises past and current global, regional and local efforts advocating adolescent girls and women’s access to safe abortion. SAfAIDS however notes with great concern the increasing retrogressive and punitive legislative frameworks and policies denying women’s access to safe abortion and freedom of choice, criminalising abortion, and limiting access to comprehensive reproductive rights and health, contributing to high rates of morbidity and mortality, particularly in developing countries. Additionally, the Mexico City Policy (Global Gag Rule) reinstated in 2017 only served to worsen the plight of adolescent girls and women - through denied full bodily autonomy and agency, and restricted access to comprehensive reproductive health services, including safe abortion. It is against this background that SAfAIDS and its partners in SADC are buttressing efforts to promote adolescent girls and women’s access to comprehensive s...

Youth Action Movement Eswatini

Search This Blog