The “1st National Sexuality and Sexual Health Symposium” held by the Near East University Dean of Students Sexual Health Service Unit was held at the Near East University Irfan Günsel Congress Center. The symposium, which addressed sexual health education in preschool and youth, was organized as two sessions and a panel. The symposium, which brought together academics and health professionals who are experts in their fields, addressed the issue of sexual education in the family and discussed how parents can guide their children about sexuality. The symposium, where sexual education programs implemented in preschool were discussed, introduced school-based sexual abuse prevention programs aimed at protecting children.
The symposium, which also focused on programs to prevent harassment based on sexual orientation in youth, also shared information on the diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections. At the end of the symposium, the panel on “HPV Vaccine” addressed the effectiveness, prevalence and future use strategies of the HPV vaccine. The panel was chaired by Kyrenia University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Head Prof. Dr. Müfit Cemal Yenen, and three presentations were made. The panel included Near East University Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Head Assoc. Prof. Dr. İsmet Gün, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eyüp Yaycı and Assist. Prof. Dr. Burcu Özbakır.
The symposium was chaired by Near East University Dean of Students Prof. Dr. Dudu Özkum Yavuz and Near East University Obstetrics and Gynaecology Nursing Department faculty member and Sexual Health Service Unit Head Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dilek Sarpkaya Güder. Near East University President Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ became the honorary president of the symposium. At the end of the symposium, certificates of appreciation were presented to the participants.
Eight presentations in two sessions, in-depth information sharing on many topics!
The first session was chaired by Prof. Dr. Candan Öztürk, Head of the Department of Child Health and Diseases, Faculty of Nursing, Near East University, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dilek Sarpkaya Güder, Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Women’s Health, Faculty of Nursing, Near East University. During the session; Specialist Hulin Sıddık from Near East University Ataturk Faculty of Education made a presentation titled “Sexuality and Sexual Health in the Preschool Period”, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rojin Mamuk from Eastern Mediterranean University Faculty of Health Sciences made a presentation titled “Sexual Education in the Family”, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mine Bahçeci from Cyprus International University, “Examples of Sexual Education Programs in Preschools”, and Specialist Rukiye Uslu from Near East University, “Examples of School-Based Sexual Abuse Prevention Programs”.
The second session was chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. İsmet Gün and Head of the Psychology Department of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Assoc. Prof. Dr. Meryem Karaaziz made presentations in the session. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özlem Akalp from the Faculty of Nursing of Near East University made a presentation titled “Sexuality and Sexual Health Problems in Adolescence and Youth”, Specialist Nilsu Atıcı, “Examples of Comprehensive Sexual Education in Schools”, Specialist Physiotherapist Batuhan Dericioğlu from the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation of the Faculty of Health Sciences of Cyprus International University, “Examples of Programs to Prevent Harassment Based on Sexual Orientation” and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eyüp Yaycı, a Gynecology and Obstetrics Specialist from Near East University Hospital, made a presentation titled “Diagnosis and Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections”.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dilek Sarpkaya Güder: “While creating awareness in the field of sexuality and sexual health, we will discuss the problems with their solutions with multidisciplinary approaches.”
Noting that the Sexual Health Service Unit affiliated with the Near East University Dean of Students was established in December 2023 and has undertaken many successful projects in a short time, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dilek Sarpkaya Güder, Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Faculty of Nursing of the Near East University, said that they actively take part in awareness, promotion and information activities as a unit. Stating that they organize sexuality and sexual health trainings in 14 villages together with the collaborating municipalities, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Güder said, “We provide free consultancy services to students who apply to our unit and we also receive support from the clinical service unit in our hospital. We would like to thank our management and volunteer staff for their support.”
Stating that the theme of “Sexuality and sexual health problems in preschool and youth periods” was discussed in the first symposium, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Güder said, “In the following symposiums, we will discuss sexual dysfunctions, sexuality in adulthood and old age, and sexual health problems. We will also discuss sexuality starting from the womb, and during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period.” Noting that the symposium aimed to discuss what sexuality means for children and youth in the pre-school and youth periods and to raise awareness of sexual health problems, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Güder said, “While raising awareness, we aim to discuss the solutions to the problems with multidisciplinary approaches.” Stating that sexuality is often associated with ‘shame, fear and false beliefs,’ Assoc. Prof. Dr. Güder stated that there is no comprehensive sexual education in the country and said, “There are major deficiencies both within the family and in the field of education. Sexual health services that young people can apply to are also lacking. When we address all these problems, we observe that our children and youth have problems regarding sexuality. Thus, we can reduce these problems with comprehensive sexual education starting from the pre-school and youth periods.”
