The Church's Response to Sexual Reproductive Health Issues Among Youths: Jamaica's Experience

This study evaluated the response of religious denominations to sexual reproductive health issues among youths using a close-ended, structured, 32-item questionnaire and an interview. The majority (71% men, 71% women) of the respondents attended church regularly; were unmarried (92% men, 83% women); were sexually active (71% men, 45% women); used drugs (65% men, 62% women). The majority of the respondents (46% men, 63% women) were reprimanded and/or ostracized by the Church. The findings suggest that issues encompassing sexuality and drugs among youth do not resonate well with the conventional religious practice of the Church, hence a significant incidence of ostracism and the likelihood of premarital sex and drug use.