CLARAWORLDMEDIA TV

An edutainment drama about youth sexual and reproductive health. Part 1
This edutainment drama, produced in north-western Tigray, Ethiopia, aims to initiate discussion on youth sexual and reproductive health in the case of contraceptive use and abortion. The six main characters, the secondary school students Solyana, Kibrom, Azeb, Tedy, Helen and Teamrat, make different choices that have consequences for their own and others' lives when entering puberty. The drama addresses gender norms that influence youth sexuality in a context where reproductive options, in the case of different contraceptive methods and safe abortion services, are in fact legally available for them. Knowledge about these options is low, however, and the silence around youth sexual and reproductive health issues prevails. When sexual abstention before marriage is reinforced by the female virginity ideal, it also becomes difficult for girls to be prepared and protect themselves if it “just happens”. This short edutainment drama also asks whether other options for being a responsible man are thinkable.

Financed by Norwegian Research Council/NORGLOBAL through the University of Bergen-based research project: “Competing discourses impacting girls’ and women’s rights: Fertility control and safe abortion in Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia”, research data will be generated from the discussions of the drama with youth, parents, teachers, health workers, religious leaders and other community members.