Pre-marital sex is a taboo in Nepal, where parents and teachers shy away from educating and discussing the subject with children and adolescents, fearing that they may unintentionally guide them to promiscuity.This is a misconception, say health experts. Parents can educate their children about sexual and reproductive health and help them towards “responsible sexual behaviour.”“In fact, open discussions with parents can help postpone sexual activity, protect them from risky activities, and support the healthy sexual conducts of youth,” said Pushpa Lal Moktan, research officer at New Era on Tuesday at a national conference on ‘Young People’s Reproductive and Sexual Health.’ The three-day conference has been organised by Society for Local Integrated Development Nepal (SOLID Nepal).Health experts at the conference were of the opinion that effective sex education could help promote safe sex among students. They pointed out that school based sex education could help to create awareness among teenagers. According to SOLID Nepal, out of 6 schools based in Dhading, Morang and Lalitpur, over 70 per cent of students had received information on reproductive health, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS from teachers. On selected sex education topics at school, 100 per cent had been educated about HIV/AIDS, but on the contrary, only around 28 per cent had a proper knowledge of contraceptives.The major concerns of young people, according to experts, include topics such as relationships, sex and contraception. Based on the findings, male adolescents worry about their voice changing, attraction towards the opposite sex and sexual curiosity. Whereas girls usually express concern over menstruation related problems and breast enlargement. “Sex education is limited to theory and teachers are shy and embarrassed to teach the topics of sex and reproductive organs,” pointed out a representative of SOLID Nepal. He said that teachers hardly explain the English words related to sexual issues, more explicitly and they sometimes become confused while teaching.However, health experts emphasised the necessity to enhance teachers’ capabilities and skills for dealing with sex issues with ease and factual information on the subject. Emphasising the need to hold further research on young people’s sexual health, they also pointed out that adequate information on the issue should be imparted to parents and the youth of semi-urban and rural areas.