Notes to broadcasters
Save and edit this resource as a Word document.
Sex is a widely discussed subject across the globe. But in many cultures and communities, talking about sex is still considered taboo. This is because of cultural, moral, social and religious values that vary from place to place. The dynamics of talking about sex have changed further with increases in teen pregnancies, abortions, school dropouts, sexually transmitted diseases and the threat of HIV infection. However, sexual health is a key part of community health, and should be discussed.
Teenage pregnancy rates across Africa have been increasing, and governments have attempted to step in with various media campaigns to create awareness. However, the effectiveness of these campaigns has not been adequately measured. Reports indicate that more teenagers are using party drugs, especially over weekends and holidays, as well as the morning after pill. The numbers of young teenage and single mothers rise daily as young people engage in unprotected sex. Teenagers, especially in rural areas, risk facing serious reproductive health problems if not educated and advised. These health challenges need to be addressed from both a preventive and curative angle in order to safeguard the health of both young people and their babies.
This script is a drama based on actual interviews. It can be used as inspiration to research and write a script on a similar topic in your area. Or you might choose to produce this script on your station, using voice actors to represent the speakers.
This script would also work well if followed by a discussion or interview with guest experts to further explore the sexual health issues raised, and talk about local efforts to address these issues.
Script
Characters
Host
Clare Kiko: health worker
Stella: 14-year-old girl
Ben: Stella’s father
Flora: Stella’s mother
Boyo: Stella’s boyfriend
Esther: 14-year-old girl, Stella’s friend
Maggie: Flora’s friend
Sonia: Flora’s friend Signature tune up for five seconds, then fade down and out under host
Host:
Hello listeners, welcome to this special program on sexual health. Now, have you ever been in a situation where you knew you needed to say something but did not know how? Today we meet a lively, sexually active teenage girl who has never talked to her parents about sex. Her parents also do not know how to talk to her about it. Stay tuned; let’s learn more!
SFX:
Noises of a busy market place up for five seconds and then fade and hold under
Flora:
Maggie, what is going on with our girls? I was just walking the other day, and I saw Truphena. She is pregnant! Yet she is only fourteen years old!
Maggie:
Are you serious, Flora?
Sonia:
She is serious, Maggie, I heard about that. I hope my daughter Sue is not pregnant …
Flora:
Why do you say that, Sonia?
Sonia:
She has been feeling unwell each morning. She has also been vomiting a lot. I am terribly worried.
Maggie:
You know, in all my years as a teacher, I have never heard of so many young people dropping out of school because of pregnancy. I think I will transfer my children to another school. I do not want them to get mixed up in all this. Eh!
Background noise of busy market street fade out from the background
Signature tune up for five seconds, then fade down and out under host
Signature tune up for five seconds, then fade down and out under host
Host:
As the women wonder about their teenagers, on the other side of the market, fourteen-year-old Stella is having some fun in the back yard of her home with Boyo, her sixteen-year-old boyfriend.
SFX:
Kissing sounds, Stella and Boyo giggling
Stella:
Stop it, Boyo!
Boyo:
Come on, girl! You know I love the taste of your lips, eh?
Stella:
Mmmh!
SFX:
Sound of footsteps approaching
Ben:
You! What do you think you are doing?
SFX:
Ruffling clothes as Boyo and Stella compose themselves
Stella:
Daddy … Daddy … er …
Ben:
Daddy daddy what? Eh? You, get out of here! Nonsense joker!
Boyo:
But … but I …
Ben:
Get out before I get my hands on you!!
SFX:
Footfalls as Boyo runs off
Ben:
Nonsense joker!!Stella, did I not warn you about that boy?
Stella:
Daddy, he is not just a boy, Boyo is my boyfriend!
SFX:
Sound of a slap landing on Stella’s cheek. Stella cries out.
Ben:
I never want to hear that again! Get into the house!
SFX:
Sounds of Stella running into the house, crying
Signature tune up for five seconds, then down and out under host
Host:
Later that day, Stella runs away from home. Her mother Flora is not happy about this. She confronts Ben, her husband. They argue outside their home.
Flora:
Ben, why did you have to hit her? Now see what you have done! Stella has run off!
Ben:
Flora, your daughter will be back, you wait.
Flora:
What do you mean wait? Maybe she has gone to live with that boy! What will you do if she comes back here pregnant?
Ben:
She wouldn’t dare! Nonsense joker!
Flora:
Then take responsibility! You are her father!
Ben:
Aargh, leave me alone!
Host:
Clare Kiko, a young local health worker, happens to be walking by and overhears their conversation.
SFX:
Sounds of Kiko’s footsteps
Kiko:
(Coming on mic) Hello Ben and Flora, is everything well?
Ben:
(Angrily) What is it to you, Kiko? You should be going to the health centre. There are people waiting for you to attend to them.
Kiko:
It’s okay, Ben. There are other health workers there. But I can leave if I am not …
Flora:
(Interrupting before Kiko finishes) No, don’t go Kiko, you can help us. We are having a difficult time. Stella ran off today.
Kiko:
What? Why did she run off?
Flora:
Well, Ben slapped her. She must have gotten angry.
Ben:
Weh! Can you tell her why I slapped her?
Kiko:
Ben, you do not have to be so harsh. What caused you to do it?
Ben:
What would you do if you caught your daughter kissing a boy outside your house?
Kiko:
Well, I would be quite angry …
Ben:
You see? There it is! Spare the rod and spoil the child!
Kiko:
I see. Have the two of you ever talked to her about relationships and sex?
Pause
Flora:
No, we never have …
Kiko:
Why not?
Ben:
(Nervous) Aahmm … You know … We talk to her the best way we know how. Aahmm … but … but we do not really know how to go about it. Aahhmm … It’s a bit awkward for me to do it, so I think her mother Flora needs to do it.
Flora:
Ben, I did not get pregnant on my own!
Kiko:
Flora is right, Ben. You as a father also have a responsibility to talk to her. My advice is that you both sit down with Stella and talk to her about your concerns. Tell her you are worried that she is in a relationship or has a boyfriend and she might not be ready for sex yet. Talk to her about the dangers of having sex at an early age, like getting pregnant while she is still a child herself. This can seriously damage her health in the long run and there are chances that she might get cervical cancer later on in life. .
Ben:
Ahem … Aahmm … How do we talk about sex if she is already … aahmm … doing it?
Kiko:
You are not sure about that yet, Ben. Explain to her that as much as sex is enjoyable, she needs to be ready both physically and emotionally. Let her know there are condoms these days. She can use them for protection. There are many girls in this community who are getting pregnant and contracting sexually transmitted diseases. She should avoid unprotected sex if she wants to escape difficulties. It might lead to her dropping out of school.
Flora:
Kiko, I do not want her to get pregnant now. Are there steps she can take?
Kiko:
One way to protect herself is to follow the ABC formula: Abstain, Be faithful or use a Condom. You could advise her to abstain for now. Until she’s older. You must remember that if you do not talk to her, she will get advice somewhere else and that could be bad advice and peer pressure from friends.
Flora:
Ben, will you help me?
Pause
Kiko:
Ben, you are her father. Stella needs your guidance. In a gentler way, of course. It is important to let her know that there is nothing wrong with her having a relationship, but she needs to have someone who will respect her and not force her to do things she is not ready for.
SFX:
Ben takes a deep breath
Ben:
Eh! Ahem! Aahmm … I do not want to see her pregnant. Er … Okay, I … I will help in any way I can.
Signature tune up for five seconds, then down and out under host
Host:
Hours later, Kiko finally traces Stella to one of her best friend’s homes. She finds Stella seated alone in a bedroom, thinking.
SFX:
Door opening
Kiko:
Stella?
Stella:
Who are you?
Kiko:
Stella, my name is Kiko. I’m a health care worker. Can we talk about this?
Stella:
Just get out!
Kiko:
Listen to me, Stella …
Stella:
No Kiko, I know my parents sent you here and I am not interested in what they have to say!
Kiko:
No, I am not here because of how your parents treated you. I want us to talk about sex.
Pause
Stella:
Sex?
Kiko:
Yes, let’s talk about sex.
Stella:
What about it?
Kiko:
Have you ever thought about having it?
Stella:
Yes, why not!
Kiko:
Then have you had sex before?
Pause
Stella:
Ummm…
Pause
Kiko:
Are you afraid to tell me?
Stella:
I do not even know you.
Kiko:
I know it makes you uncomfortable, but I have been there too.
Pause. Stella sighs.
Stella:
We …
Pause
Kiko:
Go on. I promise this will just be between us.
Stella:
Promise?
Kiko:
I promise.
Stella:
Ummm … We … we … did it once ….
Kiko:
I understand … Er … How was it?
Stella:
Ummm … Painful….
Pause
Kiko:
Did you use protection?
Stella:
What … what do you mean? We did it in a safe place.
Kiko:
No. I mean, did you use a condom? It helps prevent you from getting pregnant and contracting any sexually transmitted diseases.
Stella:
I have heard about condoms … Could I be pregnant?
Kiko:
No, your mother tells me you haven’t missed your periods. What is important is that whenever you are having sex, you need to be ready. And you need to use protection. Do you want to do it again?
Stella:
Well … I have been thinking about it. Many of my girlfriends are enjoying it. But I am afraid because I did not enjoy it the first time.
Kiko:
It was painful because you were a virgin, and also because you were not psychologically ready for it. Have any of your friends gotten pregnant?
Stella:
Five of them have.
Kiko:
Didn’t they drop out of school?
Stella:
Well, yes … Some of them will come back next term.
Kiko:
Do you want that to happen to you? For you to drop out?
Stella:
No. I still want to go to school. I want to become a nurse.
Kiko:
Then you should think about whether you want to have sex with Boyo again. If he asks for it, you can tell him no. Perhaps you should finish school first. Then you can decide when to have sex. Even then, always use a condom.
Stella:
It is hard; he is my boyfriend.
Kiko:
I know how you feel. When I was your age, I felt the same way too. I had sex with my boyfriend. But that was a mistake. I learned that I do not have to show him my love by having sex. There is a time for everything. I know you can do it, okay? We have a lot of nurses at the health centre. Do you want to come with me to the health centre?
Stella:
Well … I don’t know …
Kiko: C
ome, I have some good things I can show you, especially about being a nurse. After that, I will take you home and help you talk to your parents, okay?
Stella:
Okay.
SFX:
Sounds of footsteps walking away, door opening and being shut
Signature tune up for five seconds, then down and out under host
Signature tune up for five seconds, then down and out under host
Host:
Stella learned some new things about sex by visiting Kiko. After a few days, she starts helping Kiko do her rounds in the community to talk to her peers about avoiding premature and unsafe teenage sex.
SFX:
Sounds of footsteps on a path
Kiko:
How are you feeling about helping me talk to teenagers about sex, Stella?
Stella:
A little nervous, Kiko. But I feel it is the right thing.
Kiko:
I am really glad you came with me today. I am also happy that you went back home. Your parents looked really happy.
Stella:
Yes, we had the talk. It was a little strange, because we had never done that before, but at the end of it all, we felt so much closer. It is strange. I feel like I can tell my parents anything now!
Kiko:
That is so great! I am sure your parents trust you more now. Are we almost there?
Stella:
Yes, it is right around this corner.
SFX:
Sounds of footsteps on a path
Stella:
Hello Esther, my girlfriend!
Esther:
Stella! How are you?
Stella:
I am fine! I came with the friend I told you about. Her name is Clare Kiko.
Kiko:
Hello, Esther.
Esther:
Thank you so much for coming. Er … I … I have two boyfriends who want to have sex. What do I do?
Kiko:
I will help you, Esther, but we shouldn’t talk standing here, right? Let’s go to the health centre.
SFX:
Girls laugh, footsteps fade away
Fade up signature tune, then down and out under host
Host:
Thank you for listening to this program. I hope you are now going to be able to talk more freely about sex with your teens. Visit your local health centre or youth centre and get more material on this! My name is ___________________ saying, don’t play it shy. Speak up and find out what you need to know. And play it safe!
Ending tune up for five seconds, then down and out
Acknowledgements
- Contributed by: Simon Mukali, producer, Media Development in Africa (MEDEVA)
- Reviewed by: Busisiwe Ngcebetsha, radio trainer and projects manager, Media and Training Centre for Health, Cape Town, South Africa
Information sources
- Interviews with teenagers (13-18 years) and parents in Nairobi and its outskirts, October 21st-23rd, 2010.
- IRIN News, 2008. Kenya: More education equals less teen pregnancy and HIV. http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=79456
- World Population Awareness – Teen Pregnancies. http://www.overpopulation.org/teenpreg.html#worldwide