The Higher Population Council, in cooperation with Share-Net Jordan, held a meeting on July 24, 2023 to launch a parents' guide and a film to educate children in the field of sexual and reproductive health and to announce the results of the media competition on the components of sexual and reproductive health. Attending the meeting was a number of stakeholders and media professionals who participated in the competition.
Both the guide for parents on the sexual and reproductive health of their adolescent children, and film entitled “Educating Children about Sexual and Reproductive Health” are part of the outputs of the Project Improvement Program using the participatory approach.
Prepared by Jordanian experts in the field of health, education and psychology and based on the recommendations of a number of studies prepared by the Higher Population Council and Share-Net Jordan, the guide and film aim to enhance dialogue and an open channel of communication between parents and their adolescent children.
Taking part in the preparation of the guide and film was also a number of Jordanian researchers affiliated with prestigious international universities who presented academic studies which called for strengthening and supporting the role of parents in educating their children in sexual and reproductive health.
Prof. Dr. Issa Al-Masarweh, HPC Secretary-General affirmed that the Council strives continuously to spread awareness on all aspects of reproductive and sexual health, and in particular among adolescents. Adolescents, Masarweh continued, represent the future and are the forces of change since they do not get the necessary attention and also lack reliable information about reproductive and sexual health though being the group most in need of information and services. In addition, adolescents have biological and psychological needs that are not always met.
Al-Masarweh explained that the media competition, executed by HPC, on the components of sexual and reproductive health aimed at raising the level of public awareness of the components and issues related to reproductive and sexual health.
Henceforth, the competition dealt with these issues in the printed, electronic and visual media by focusing on and addressing them in the media with more depth and impact.
Contents of the competition included topics such as: eligibility and readiness for marriage, family planning, safe motherhood, HIV/ AIDS, menopause, adolescence, gender-based violence and domestic violence. The competition targeted professionals in printed, electronic and visual media channels. Students of media faculties in Jordanian universities also had access to the competition.
During the meeting, results of the media competition were announced as follows: Mohammad Al-Lubani of the Al-Mamlaka TV News came first in the category of the best printed/electronic journalistic material. Lubani’s article submitted to the competition addressed electronic violence against women. Razan Al-Majali of Al-Rai newspaper came second with her article on reproductive health for people with disabilities. Shireen Al-Sughayer of the Jordan Media Institute won third place with her article on menopause, published in Al-Ghad newspaper. Khaled Rashid, a student at the Middle East University, won first place in the category of the best visual media material with a film on acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Journalist Shatha Qutaitat of the Radio and Television Corporation won second place with material on the ‘Guest House/ shelter for Abused Women.’ Journalist Salam Taha, from Al-Mamlaka TV, won third place with an article that dealt with infertility.
