JC: Science Unit 4

Botswana College of Distance

and Open Learning

Junior Secondary-Science

UNIT 4

Sexual Reproductive Health

©2014 BOCODOL
JC: Science Unit 4

Table of Contents

Contents
Lesson 1: Human Growth and Development 1
Lesson 2: Human Development and Care 17
Lesson 3: Sexual behaviour Problems 27
Answers to Self-Assessment Exercises 34
Self-assessment Exercise 1 34
Self-assessment Exercise 2 34
Self-assessment Excercise 3 35

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Margin Icons
While working through this Course material you will notice the frequent use of
margin icons. These icons serve to “signpost” a particular piece of text, a new task or change
in activity; they have been included to help you to find your way around this course material.
A complete icon set is shown below. Familiarise yourself with the icons and their meaning
before starting your study.

Glossary Bibliography

Learning Objectives
Time

Unit Assessment

i Introduction

Unit Outcomes

Unit Aims

References

Bibliography
Activity

Self-assessment Exercise

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Acknowledgements
This is a product of many people who worked hard to produce it for use by BOCODOL
learners. BOCODOL wishes to acknowledge the contributions of the following:

Programme Development Officer

D. Kgamanyane

Writer
G.D Masogo

Content Editor
G. Sekobye
T. Keetsaletse

In-house Editor
Mmaserame David

DTP Assistant
Yunobia Segokgo

Reviewer
Tommie Hamaluba
Lesego Pelotona

Cover Design
Gaolatlhe Masire

We thank everybody who assisted in one way or the other, in the production of this unit.

©2014 BOCODOL
JC: Science Unit 4

Introduction to Unit 4
Sexual Reproductive Health

Hello Learner, Welcome to Unit 4 of Junior Certificate Science. This unit deals with the
biological aspects of Science, which is the human body and how it functions. There are
many systems within the human body, and in this unit we will deal particularly with the
reproductive system. In Unit 2 you were introduced to the characteristics of living things,
you learnt that reproduction is one of those characteristics. You are going to learn more about
reproduction. You were also introduced to cells and some specialised cells. There are some
cells specialised for reproduction and you will get to know in depth details concerning those
cells.
There are two modes of reproduction; namely sexual reproduction and asexual reproduction.
In human beings the sexual mode of reproduction is employed. At times when people engage
in sexual reproduction, they contract some diseases. This unit covers different sexually
transmitted diseases, their symptoms and ways of treating them.
Pregnancy is a result of sexual intercourse. You will therefore learn a lot about pregnancy,
care of the mother during pregnancy as well as care for the baby after it has been born. The
information contained in this unit can therefore help you as it is essential in life.

Unit Aims
After completion of this unit you should be able to:
• understand the functions of the different parts of the human reproductive system.
• develop positive attitudes about sexuality.
• Acquire basic knowledge about the use of a variety of birth control methods.
• know about sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS and their prevalence
and seriousness.

Unit contents
This unit consists of three lessons, they are as follows:-
Lesson 1: Human growth and development
Lesson 2: Human development and care
Lesson 3: Sexual behaviour problems

Time frame
Each lesson has subtopics to help you divide the material you learn into smaller parts to
enhance your study. It is best you understand each little piece before you go on to the next.
Each lesson can be completed in 3 hours. Occasionally, you get asked questions within the
text, to check your understanding. Answer the questions in spaces provided. These questions

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do not take up too much time; you can do them within five minutes. Again there are activities
found in the unit. For the activities you will need at least ten minutes since they ask several
questions. The assignment found at the end of the unit needs your undivided attention, set
aside 1 hour to carry out the assignment.

Resources
If you have access to the library, use the books and any materials there like wall charts and
encyclopaedias to add on to your understanding. Have your note book and pen ready to write
notes and important points as you study. By so doing you will remember things better as you
will be actively engaged. If you have access to internet, you can google the key words and
see the results of those words.

Assessment
You are provided with feedback for all the exercises. In text questions and activities are given
answers immediately. The self-assessment exercises have feedback at the end of the lesson,
and the unit assignment has to be handed in to your tutor, who will then supply the answers
for you to correct your work. Try by all means not to refer to the answers before you attempt
the exercises. They are meant to have you find out information on your own and develop a
programme of study suitable for you. Remember you have to check your own understanding
as well.

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Lesson 1
Human Growth and Development

i Introduction
You may have noticed that males and females have physical differences in some ways. In
Lesson 1 you are going to learn about the reproductive system in male and female human
beings and how the different parts of these systems function. You will then learn about the
changes that take place as boys and girls mature to be adults.
At adulthood a person needs to make choices related to family planning (decisions made in
relation to family size). You will be exposed to the various methods of birth control, their
advantages and disadvantages as well as the places where these birth control methods can be
obtained.

Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson you should be able to:
• describe the functions of the parts of the female reproductive system
• describe the functions of the parts of the male reproductive system
• distinguish between male and female sex cells
• describe the changes that occur at puberty
• describe the menstrual cycle
• state three hormones responsible for changes at puberty and describe their
functions
• define menopause
• list the different methods of birth control
• discuss the advantages and the disadvantages of the different methods of birth
control
• discuss the implications of family planning in the light of family size
• identify outlets that provide family planning advice and services

Lesson Contents
1.0 The reproductive system 2
2.0 Physical development and puberty 6
3.0 Method of Birth Control 9
Summary 14
Glossary 14
Self-assessment Exercise 1 15

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1.0 The Reproductive System

Amongst other systems in the body like the respiratory system, the nervous system, the
circulatory system, there is the reproductive system. This is the system responsible for
production of young ones. This system has unique characteristics in males and in females.

1.1 The Female Reproductive System

Female human beings are the girls and the women. The female reproductive system is
made up of organs that work together to enable the women to produce babies. The female
reproductive system lies around the pelvic region, it consists of several parts.

These parts are:

• Ovaries
• Oviduct (Fallopian tube)
• Womb (Uterus)
• Cervix
• Vagina

These parts are shown in Figure 1 below:

Study this figure and look at the places where the parts lie:

Figure 1: The Female Reproductive System

 

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_sexuality
Now we are going to learn about each part of the female reproductive system

(a) Ovaries
There are two ovaries in the female reproductive system. The function of each ovary is to
produce the female sex cells or gametes. One sex cell is called an ovum and many sex cells
are called ova. The other function of the ovaries is to produce female hormones; oestrogen
and progesterone. These hormones prepare some female body organs for reproduction.

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(b) Oviduct (Fallopian tube)

The oviducts are also called fallopian tubes. They are attached to two ovaries. Fertilisation
takes place in the oviduct. When the ovum is released from the ovaries it travels through the
oviducts, and if a woman has unprotected sexual intercourse, the male sex cell or sperm can
meet the ovum. The meeting of the ovum with the sperm is called fertilisation.

(c) Womb (uterus)

The womb is also called the uterus. This is a muscular organ shaped like a pear. It is the place
where the baby develops and grows when the woman is pregnant. If pregnancy does not take
place, the walls of the womb are taken out of the body during the menstrual period.

(d) Cervix
The cervix is the opening of the womb/uterus. It allows for passage of the menstrual
discharge if fertilisation has not occurred and opens to allow the baby to pass during birth if
the woman has been pregnant.

(e) Vagina
The vagina is a muscular canal that leads to the outside. It accommodates the male’s penis
during sexual intercourse. It also acts as a canal that allows the baby to pass at birth.

See from below here a diagram of the vagina and its labelling

 
Figure 2: Vagina
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_sexuality

1.2 The Male Reproductive System

Male human beings consist of boys and the men. Together with the female reproductive
system, the male reproductive system enables human beings to reproduce young ones. The
male reproductive system lies in the lower abdomen and it consists of these parts:

• Testes
• Scrotum
• Epididymis
• Sperm duct

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• Prostate gland
• Urethra
• Penis
• Foreskin

 
Figure 3: Penis
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_sexuality

Let us now explain them

(a) Testes
Each male has two testes. One is called a testis. Testes produce the male sex cells or the male
gametes; sperms. The testes also produce the male hormone known as testosterone.

(b) Scrotum
This is a sac that encloses the testes. The scrotum allows the testes to hang below the
body so as to keep them below body temperatures. The testes have to be kept below body
temperatures because they survive best at those temperatures.

(c) Epididymis
It is found attached to the testis and it leads to the sperm duct. The function of the epididymis
is to store sperms.

(d) Sperm duct

This is a tube-like organ coming from the epididymis. It passes the sperms out through the
penis during their release or ejaculation.

(d) Prostate gland

This organ surrounds the urethra just below the urinary bladder. Its function is to produce
seminal fluid which is added to the sperms to make semen, and this helps the sperms to swim.

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(e) Urethra
The urethra is a tube that leads from below the urinary bladder to the penis. It carries semen
out of the body during ejaculation.
Note that: This is still the same tube that takes urine out of the body as well.
Urine does not come out at the same time as the semen though.
Have you understood the functions of the organs in the male reproductive system?
The sperm duct and the urethra are both tubes, what differences did you note between them?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

The sperm duct carries sperms only, whereas the urethra carries semen (sperm mixed with
seminal fluid) as well as urine from the urinary bladder. Lets continue with the other parts

(f) Penis
The penis is made of muscles. It is placed inside the female reproductive system during
sexual intercourse, to deliver sperms.

(g) Foreskin
This is the soft skin surrounding the head of the penis. Its function is to cover the end of the
penis.

1.3 The Sex Cells

What you have learnt so far in this lesson is that the male and the female reproductive system
are responsible for the production of sex cells or gametes. When the gametes fuse, that is
when they create a zygote.

Recall where the gametes are produced in males and in females

__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

The ovary is the organ that produces the female gamete, ovum.
The testis is the organ that produces the male gamete, sperm.

The sex cells are specialised to carry out reproduction, but they both have some parts that are
typical of animal cells; cell membrane, cytoplasm and nucleus.

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Shown below are the diagrams of the ovum and the sperm in Figures 4 and 5:

Figure 4: Sperm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sperm

Figure 5: Ovum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sperm

The following table shows the differences between the ovum and the sperm:

Ova Sperm
Produced in the ovaries Produced in the testes
Larger Smaller
Does not move around Moves using its tail
Released one at a time Millions released at a time

2. 0 Physical Development and Puberty

As children grow older, their bodies start showing signs of maturity. They mature physically
, mentally and sexually. lets discuss some ofthe stages or changes that happen as the body
matures in details.

2.1 Puberty
Puberty is the maturing of sex cells or the change from childhood into adulthood. Puberty
usually comes early in girls, around the age 12 and a little late in boys, around the age 14. Do

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you know the other name for puberty? It is also referred to as adolescence.
The maturing of the sex cells brings secondary sexual characteristics.
Secondary sexual characteristics in females include the following:
• Release ova in a cycle called the menstrual cycle
• Breasts grow larger
• Hips widen
• Layers of body fat develop
• Hair grows under armpits
• Hair grows around the sex organs
• Pimples appear on the face
• The sex organ enlarges

Secondary sexual characteristics in males is shown by the following:-

• Males produce sperms and have wet dreams
• Muscles develop
• The voice box (larynx or Adam’s apple) develops
• The voice deepens
• Hair grows on the face
• Hair grows under armpits
• Hair grows around the sex organs
• Pimples appear on the face
• The sex organ enlarges

You now know the changes that take place in girls and boys at puberty, which changes occur
in both girls and boys?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

If you said the following: Enlargement of the sex organs, appearance of pimples, growth of
hair under armpits and around the sex organs.
Good!

2.2 Hormones
Hormones are messenger substances produced in one part of the body and distributed to other
parts. Puberty is controlled by sex hormones. The changes that take place in boys and girls at
puberty are as a result of the release of these hormones. The female hormones are oestrogen
and progesterone; they are produced in the ovaries. The male hormone is testosterone; it is
produced in the testes.

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2.3 The Menstrual Cycle

We have already mentioned that the females release ova in a menstrual cycle. The menstrual
cycle occurs every twenty eight days. Now let us look closely at what happens in this cycle.
The phases/stages in a menstrual cycle are:
• Ovulation
• Receptive phase
• Pre-menstrual phase
• Menstruation
• Repair phase

(a) Ovulation
Ovulation is the release of one mature ovum from the ovary to the oviduct. This is activated
by an increase in the hormone, oestrogen.

(b) Receptive phase

This phase comes after ovulation. At this phase an increase in the hormone progesterone
causes the uterus lining to thicken in case the released ovum is fertilised so that it can be
implanted in the uterus.

(c) Pre-menstrual phase

During this phase some women show signs that menstruation is near. The signs are caused
by changes in amounts of hormones and they result in a headache, tenderness of breasts and
irritability. These signs are referred to as pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS).

(d) Menstruation
In case no fertilisation takes place, levels of progesterone go down and the woman
menstruates. The unfertilised ovum leaves the body together with the uterus lining and some
blood cells. These come out as a bloody discharge; at this time we say the woman is having
her monthly period. The menstrual period takes about five days.

(e) Repair phase

At this phase the uterus lining starts to build up again and another ovum prepares itself for
ovulation. The ovaries alternate at releasing ova. If one ovum was released from the left
ovary in the next twenty eight days the other ovum will be released from the right ovary.
Look at the diagram below and see how the stages form a cycle.

 
Figure 6: Menstrual cycle
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menstrual_cycle

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After menstruation, but before ovulation the woman can have unprotected sexual intercourse
that will not result in fertilisation, this is called the safe period. From ovulation there is a
high chance that unprotected sexual intercourse will result in pregnancy; this is called the
fertile period.

2.4 Menopause
Around the ages 45 to 50, women stop ovulating and menstruation stops. This time is called
menopause. Menopause shows that the woman can no longer have babies. Males do not
undergo menopause, it only happens in females.

3.0 Family Planning

It is important to have control of the decisions we make in regard to our families. Family
Planning allows us to be able to have just the right number of babies, looking at our lifestyle
as well as our income. Can you imagine how many people there would be on earth if we did
not control birth?
Think about many things that people share on earth. Will they be enough for everybody?
Did you think about food, water, land, medicines, schools and other resources?
It is very important for us to plan for these before having babies so that we can live well now
and still save enough resources for future generations. Even though family planning is good
its good. It is also has some negative impact. Let us now dicuss its good and bad sides.

3.1 Advantages and Disadvantages of the Different

Methods of Birth Control
People control birth by using natural means or by using contraceptives. Contraceptives are
devices that will not enable sperms to fertilise the ova.
Carefully study methods of birth control that follow. For each method of birth control listed
there is a description of what it is and how it is applied as well as the good things about it
(advantages) and the bad things about it (disadvantages)

(a) Total Abstinence

This is whereby a person does not engage in sexual intercourse at all.

Advantages Disadvantages
No chance of pregnancy and contracting Needs disciplined people to be able
sexually transmitted diseases to resist the desire to have sexual
intercourse

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(b) Periodic Abstinence

Advantages Disadvantages
If the menstrual cycle is regular pregnancy If there are changes in the menstrual
will not occur cycle, sexual intercourse may result in
pregnancy
There is no protection against sexually
transmitted infections

(c) Douching
In this method semen is washed off with water by the female immediately after sexual
intercourse so that the sperms do not go beyond the cervix.

Advantages Disadvantages
When washed quickly and thoroughly, Semen can pass through the cervix
no sperms can pass through the cervix to before washing is done
fertilise the ova There is no protection against sexually
transmitted infections

(d) Withdrawal
In withdrawal the female and the male engage in sexual intercourse but the male takes out his
penis before ejaculating inside the female body.

Advantages Disadvantages
Places the male in control of his body Some semen may be ejaculated
reactions prematurely, leading to fertilisation
There is no protection against sexually
transmitted infections

(e) Male Condom

A thin rubber sheath is placed to cover an erect penis just before sexual intercourse.

Advantages Disadvantages
It protects against sexually transmitted If the condom is not inserted properly,
infections since body fluids do not mix it may tear and let semen through to the
female body
It does not let semen enter the female body It can only be used once
therefore pregnancy will not occur
Obtained free or very cheap, also readily
available

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(f) Female condom

A thin rubber sheath placed inside the vagina as lining that prevents contact with penis during
sexual intercourse. The female condom can also be called femidom.
Advantages Disadvantages
It protects against sexually transmitted It can only be used once
infections
It places the women in control of their own If the expiry date on the condom has passed,
sexuality it may become ineffective

(g) Intra Uterine Device

The Intra Uterine Device (IUD) is also called loop, coil, or copper T. It is made out of a small
T-shaped plastic material wrapped with a thin copper wire. It is inserted by doctors inside the
uterus and it stops implantation inside the uterus.

Advantages Disadvantages
It lasts up to five years inside the female There is no protection against sexually
body transmitted infections

Did you find it difficult to say Intra Uterine Device (IUD)?

Say it slowly so that you can learn it. Intra means inside. The IUD is placed inside the uterus.

(h) Diaphragm
A cap-like device made out of rubber, placed inside the female body through the vagina
before sexual intercourse. The diaphragm covers the cervix so that sperms cannot pass
through. One has to be given the diaphragm by a doctor after checking for the correct size.
One woman should not use another woman’s diaphragm.

Advantages Disadvantages
It can be used many times There is no protection against sexually
transmitted infections

(i) Spermicide
Spermicides are chemicals that kill sperms. They can be used together with other
contraceptives like diaphragm and condom.

Advantages Disadvantages
Kills sperms therefore no fertilisation can Expensive and not Some people’s sex
result readily available organs are affected
by the chemicals in
the spermicide

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(j) Pill
This comes as twenty-eight tablets that must be taken orally one after another, according
to the pack, on a daily basis at a specific time. The pill contains hormones that prevent
ovulation. If the ovum is not released, fertilisation cannot take place.

Advantages Disadvantages
Readily available at local health facilities It needs to be Some people
remembered experience side
everyday effects like nausea
and weight gain
when using it
Highly effective in preventing pregnancy If taken with other There is no
medication it may protection against
become ineffective sexually transmitted
infections

(k) Injection
An injection given to the female once every three months to stop ovulation.
Advantages Disadvantages
Very effective in preventing pregnancy Can lead to sterility if taken over a long
period of time
The injection is given by a person who has It cannot be taken at home, one has to go to
been trained to the clinic or hospital to get injected
It only has to be taken once in a while There is no protection against sexually
transmitted diseases

(l) Sterilisation
This is an operation done to the female or the male to stop fertilisation. In females the
oviducts are cut and tied. This is called tubal ligation. In males the sperm ducts are cut and
tied. This is called vasectomy.

Advantages Disadvantages
This is a sure way It requires another Reversing the There is no protection
of preventing operation to reverse operation may not be against sexually
pregnancy it successful transmitted infections
Now do activity 2 below to test your understanding of what we have covered so far.

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Activity 2

Take a few minutes to remind yourself about the methods of birth control.
Which is the birth control method where:-
a. The male does not ejaculate inside the female’s body?
b. Sperms are killed by a chemical?
c. A cap-like device is inserted to cover the cervix?
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

Feedback to Activity 2
(a) Withdrawal
(b) Spermicide
(c) Diaphragm

3.2 Implications of Family Planning

Family planning involves all the decisions people take regarding their family. They decide
on how many children to have, when to have the children and most importantly, on which
method of birth control to use.
When people plan their families they will be able to provide all the necessary requirements
for living, like food, shelter, clothing, medical care and education. Women also need to
allow their bodies to recover from their last pregnancy before they have another child. It also
benefits the country through reduction of povety and promotion of economic growth.

These decisions are made looking at:

• The amount of money a couple has.
• The health status of the parents.
• The age of the parents.
• The type of work the parents do.
• The best method of birth control suitable for both of them.

3.3 Family Planning Advice and Services

In Botswana there are many outlets that help people plan their families. The government of
Botswana’s Ministry of Health provides most of the contraceptives. People can get advice
and counselling related to family planning at facilities like:

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• Clinics
• Hospitals
• Social work services
• Pharmacies
• Churches
Information on family planning can also be obtained from organisations such as:
• United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in the ministry of Finance and
Development Planning
• National AIDS Coordinating Agency (NACA)
• Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELWA)
• Botswana Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS (BONEPWA)

We have come to the end of this lesson and hope you have learnt a lot concerning how the hu-
man preproductive system work on the ovae.

Summary
In this lesson we have learnt that the female reproductive system is responsible for producing
the female sex cells called ova and the female hormones progesterone and oestrogen. The
male reproductive system is responsible for producing the male sex cells called sperms
and the male hormone testosterone. The sex cells are also called gametes. Hormones bring
maturity of the gametes as well as other secondary sexual characteristics in girls and boys.
The menstrual cycle takes place every twenty-eight days. Oestrogen levels increase before
ovulation and progesterone levels increase after ovulation. During the menstrual period the
unfertilised ovum, uterus lining and blood cells leave the female body through the vagina,
then the cycle repeats itself until menopause is reached.
We also learnt that People can control birth through natural methods or by using
contraceptives. The contraceptives have advantages and disadvantages. By weighing these
advantages and disadvantages as well as information obtained from various outlets one can
choose the method best suited to them and also be able to plan well for their family.

Glossary
Adolescence: The time when girls and boys mature to be adults, also known as puberty.
Contraceptives: Devices used to control birth.
Ejaculation: The release of sperms from the male body to the outside.
Femidom: Another name for female condom.
Fertilisation: The meeting of the male sex cell (sperm) and the female sex cell (ovum) in
the oviduct/fallopian tube.
Gametes: Sex cells produced by the male and female reproductive systems.
Hormones: Chemical substances produced by the body to make certain changes in

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some parts.
Nausea: A feeling of wanting to vomit.
Orally: Swallowed through the mouth.
Pregnant: Carrying an unborn baby inside the womb.
Wet dreams: Ejaculation happening when boys are sleeping.
Zygote: An ovum that has been fertilised by a sperm and will develop into a baby.

Self-assessment Exercise 1
[Total: 15 marks]
Answer all questions in the spaces provided

1. What is the other name for the

(a) Womb ___________________________________________
(b) Oviduct __________________________________________ [2 marks]

2. Give a reason why the testes hang below the male’s bodies [1 mark]
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

3. Name three parts that are found in both the female and the male gametes [3 marks]
(a) ____________________________________________________
(b) ____________________________________________________
(c) ____________________________________________________

4. List three secondary sexual characteristics in males only [3 marks]

(a) _________________________________________________________________
(b) _________________________________________________________________
(c) _________________________________________________________________

5. Explain what is meant by fertile period [2 marks]

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

6. What is menopause? [1 mark ]

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

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7. At what age does menopause usually occur? [1 mark ]

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

8. State one disadvantage of using the intra uterine device as a contraceptive [1 mark ]
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

9. Which method of birth control is the safest? [1 mark ]

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

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Lesson 2
Human Development and care

i Introduction

Welcome to Lesson 2 of Unit 4. For you to work on this lesson you must have completed
Lesson 1 of Unit 4 because we are going to learn more about some of the things you dealt
with in lesson 1. In Lesson 1, you learnt sexual reproductive systems and other organs of
the both the male and female bodies. In this lesson we are going to deal with pregnancy
and childcare. We are going to go further and learn about what goes on after fertilisation.
Illustrations are included to help you identify the parts that we will be talking about.
Occasionally you will be asked some questions to help you remember and to check your
understanding. At the end of the lesson, take time to carry out the self-assessment exercise.
Answers for the exercise are provided.

Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson you should be able to:
• describe the process of fertilization
• identify signs of pregnancy
• describe the development of the embryo in terms of zygote, ball of cells (blastula
or morula) and foetus
• identify placenta, amnion and umbilical cord
• describe the functions of the placenta, amnion and umbilical cord
• state the conditions leading to multiple births
• discuss how ante natal care of a pregnant woman contributes towards a healthy
development of the baby
• describe the nutritional needs of a pregnant woman
• describe the main stages of birth
• compare breast feeding to bottle feeding
• discuss nutritional needs of a lactating mother and of the baby
• describe the methods of immunization of babies against TB, measles, tetanus,
hepatitis B and DPT (diphtheria, polio and whooping cough)
• discuss the importance of testing for HIV when pregnant
• evaluate the significance of prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT)
to the child and the mother

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Lesson contents
1.0 Pregnancy 18
2.0 Child care 22
Summary 24
Glossary and abbreviations 25
Self-assessment Exercise 2 25

1.0 Pregnancy
The process of reproduction involves several stages, sexual intercourse that leads to the
sperm cell meeting with the ovum which then leads to pregnancy. It then takes nine months
for the fused cells to develop into a mature embryo that will be a baby born, bearing some
physical characteristics of both parents.

1.1 Fertilisation
Fertilisation is when the sperm and the ovum meet. It can also be called conception or
fusion; it takes place in the oviduct. Now let us discuss this process in more detail.

Events Leading to Fertilisation

The male ejaculates or releases the sperms and the sperms swim towards the oviduct using
their tails for movement. The sperms surround the ovum released by the female at ovulation.
Only one sperm out of the millions released is able to go through the membranes of the ovum.
The tail of the sperm is left outside the ovum when the head penetrates the ovum. Then the
nucleus of the sperm fuses with the nucleus of the ovum, forming a zygote. The zygote then
develops inside the female uterus. The development of the zygote inside the female’s uterus is
referred to as pregnancy or gestation. During this pregnancy there are several changes that
occur in the body of a pregnant mother. We shall discuss those changes below.

1.2 Signs of Pregnancy

The gestation period or the duration of pregnancy in human beings is nine months (36 weeks)
During this period the zygote undergoes stages of development until it is ready to be born. In
the mean time the pregnant woman notices changes in her body. When a woman is preganant,
the following signs are noticeable:

• Menstruation stops
• The foetus grows in the uterus causing the abdomen to enlarge
• Breasts grow larger
• Nipples feel tender
• Body weight increases

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1.3 Development of the Embryo

The fertilised ovum divides in the oviduct, with its cells doubling up in number, making a
small round balls of cells referred to as the morula. Follow Figure 1 below to see how the
zygote develops inside the uterus.

Figure 1: Zygote development in the uterus

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embryo

The morula keeps on doubling its cells forming a hollow ball of cells now referred to as
a blastula. The blastula then goes to the uterus and attaches/implants itself to the thick
uterus walls. This stage of attaching is called implantation. At implantation some cells start
specialising to form placenta, amniotic sac and umbilical cord. At this stage we start to refer
to the developing baby as an embryo.
Cells continue to divide and specialise into various organs of the body. At about six weeks of
development until the end of pregnancy the developing embryo can be called foetus.

Figure 2 below shows the foetus developing inside the uterus.

Note the position of the different parts.

 
Figure 2: Foetus developing inside the uterus
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embryo

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As the foetus is developing inside the mother there are parts which are formed to ensue it
grows well. Lets see what some of those are:

Placenta
• Attaches the foetus to the uterus of the mother
• Separates foetus blood from the mother’s blood
• Produces the hormones which keep pregnancy going
• Exchanges substances between the mother and the foetus
Amnion/ Amniotic sac
• Carries the developing embryo
• Contains the amniotic fluid which cushions the embryo from shock and harm
Umbilical cord
• Connects the foetus to the placenta
• Carries blood containing dissolved food and oxygen from the placenta to the
foetus
• Carries waste materials like carbon dioxide and urea from the foetus to the
placenta

1.4 Multiple Births

There are cases where dividing cells after fertilisation separate to form two embryos. This
becomes two babies who have identical characteristics. These babies are called identical
twins. Identical twins are always of the same gender, that is, either being boys or both being
girls.
Sometimes the woman releases two ova at the same time. These ova get fertilised by two
different sperms resulting in babies who may have similar characteristics called non identical
twins or fraternal twins. Fraternal twins could be of the same sex, or one could be a boy and
the other a girl. Their characteristics are like those of brothers and sisters not born at the same
time. Three babies born from the same mother at the same time are called triplets and four
babies are called quadruplets. During the time of pregnancy the woman has to be given care.
This care is called ante-natal care. We will go on to discuss this type of care.

1.5 Ante-Natal Care

Let us now see what care the woman is given during pregnancy and how it is given. During
pregnancy the woman has to visit a health facility to be able to receive ante-natal care. There
she will be taught how to take care of her body during pregnancy(general hygiene). The
health practitioner will monitor the development of the baby growing inside her. She will be
given injections to help give the unborn baby immunity against diseases advised to exercise
so as to strengthen her muscles for birth. The expectant woman also to keep healthy by
taking in a balanced diet suitable for her condition. This diet should be rich in:
• Proteins (for the growth and body building of the foetus)
• Carbohydrates (to provide energy)
• Vitamins (to protect against diseases)

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• Minerals (Calcium to build the bones of the foetus and Iron to make blood)
• Water (for the removal of waste products)
During the time of pregnancy, the woman has to avoid the use of drugs that could harm the
baby. Let us look at some of the examples related to this. Cigarette smoke contains carbon
monoxide and nicotine which reduces the baby’s development making it to have low birth
weight. Alcohol can give the baby alcohol poisoning and cause deformities, which are
abnormalities in some parts of the body

1.6 Main Stages of Birth

At the end of the gestation period the foetus gets ready to be born. Towards birth the foetus
turns and it places itself with the head near the opening of the cervix. At normal birth the
head comes out first, followed by the rest of the body. At times the foetus does not turn fully,
making the feet come out first, this is known as breech birth. If there are problems during
birth, the doctor or the midwife will perform an operation to remove the baby from the
mother’s uterus. This operation is referred to as caesarean section.

When the baby is ready to be born the body of the mother will go through these stages called
labour:

(a) Contractions
This is the time when the muscles of the uterus tighten and squeeze at intervals to enable the
baby to pass out through the vagina. The contractions cause pain in the woman’s body known
as labour pains.

(b) Breaking of waters

As the uterus contracts it breaks open the cervix and the amniotic fluid flows out.

(c) Dilation of the cervix

The contractions cause the cervix to open/dilate. It can stretch to a diameter up to 10 cm, to
allow the baby to pass though.

(d) Emergence of the baby

After the waters break, the baby emerges/comes out of the uterus. It is at this time that we
say the baby is being born. When the baby is born the umbilical cord has to be cut so that
the baby can start breathing the oxygen in the surrounding. The baby will no longer be using
gases from the mother.

(e) Expulsion of the afterbirth

The contractions continue on so as to push the placenta and the amniotic sac out of the wom-
an’s body.

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Activity 1

1. Which useful substances enter the umbilical cord from the mother?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
2. Which waste materials leave the umbilical cord to be taken out of the body
by the mother?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
3. Explain what breech birth is
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

Feedback to Activity 1
1. The useful substances that go towards the foetus are food and oxygen.
2. The waste substances that leave the foetus through the umbilical cord are
carbon dioxide and urea
3. Breach birth is the type of birth where the baby leaves the birth canal with feet
emerging first instead of the head emerging first.

2.0 Child Care

After the baby is born, it has to be taken care of. Let us now see how this should be done.
A new-born baby needs special care so that it grows. It has to be given all the things that
will enable it to grow such as food, shelter and clothes. Since its digestive system is still
developing it is fed on milk. Milk comes naturally from the mother’s breasts but other
people prefer to give their babies formula prepared in bottles. There are advantages and
disadvantages of both breast-feeding and bottle feeding.

2.1 Breast Feeding versus Bottle-Feeding

There are good things and bad things about breast-feeding and bottle-feeding. They enable
mothers to choose the right method for feeding their babies.
The advantages of breast-feeding are:
• The milk is free
• The milk is always ready to be given to the baby at all times; there is no need for
preparation.
• The milk contains enough nutrients to nourish the baby

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• The milk is always at the right temperature

• The milk contains antibodies from the mother, to make the baby immune to
illnesses
• It creates a bond between the mother and the baby
(a) Disadvantages of breast feeding
• If the mother is not there, the baby will not be fed
• If the mother has contagious diseases, they will be passed on to the baby
• It is not easy to feed the baby in public places
(b) Advantages of bottle feeding
• The milk has measured amounts of nutrients needed by the baby
• The baby can be fed even if the mother is not there
• Other people can assist the mother in feeding the baby
(c) Disadvantages of bottle feeding
• Germs can enter the bottle during preparation
• The milk has to be prepared before being given to the baby
• The milk is not always prepared to the right temperature
• The special bond created during breast feeding is not there
• The milk may not have all the nutrients needed by the baby
• The milk is expensive

2.2 The needs of the mother and the baby

(a) Nutritional needs
There are two major needs for the mother and the baby that we are going to discuss in
this sections.

The two are nutrients need

A lactating mother needs to take in lots of fluids in order to make milk for the baby. She also
has to eat a balanced diet and exercise well so that her body recovers from pregnancy and
childbirth.
From birth the baby gets fed on milk only. Milk from the mother’s breast contains all the
necessary nutrients needed by the baby at this time. Soft solid foods that do not need chewing
can then be started as the baby grows, when the baby gets used to eating the solid foods,
giving milk can be reduced or stopped, this is called weaning. As the baby’s digestive
system and teeth develop more solid foods should be introduced. The baby should be given
a balanced diet to suit its growing body and its amount of energy otherwise it will develop
diseases caused by malnutrition like kwashiorkor and marasmus.

Can you think of soft food that the baby can be given?
List three of some of those foods
__________________________________________________________________________

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__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Examples are: mashed potatoes, soft porridge and bananas

(b) Medical needs

Apart from the nutritional needs the baby also has medical needs let us now see what those
are.
From birth a baby is vaccinated against diseases she/he could get. Preventing one from
contracting diseases is called immunisation. The Government of Botswana has a guide that
shows when the babies should receive vaccines and supplementary medication.
Shown below is the immunisation schedule
Age Disease vaccinated against
At birth Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B
2 months Polio, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Whooping cough
3 months Polio, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Whooping cough
4 months Polio, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Whooping cough
9 months Measles
18 months Polio booster, Diphtheria booster, Measles
7 years Polio booster, Diphtheria booster
13 years Tetanus booster
Immunisation can be given in the forms of injections or droplets of medicine taken through
the mouth. It is also very important for a woman to know her health status before and during
pregnancy so that she will not pass diseases like Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and
HIV/AIDS on to the baby. If she is found to be HIV positive she is placed in a PMTCT
programme. This programme aims at preventing or reducing chances of passing on of HIV
from the mother to the baby during pregnancy or at labour.

Do you know what is done in the PMTCT programme?

In this programme a drug called AZT (Zivoduzine) is given to the HIV positive pregnant
woman during pregnancy and at labour. The baby is injected with a drug that reduces HIV
and given AZT medicine for some weeks. The baby is kept on prevention drugs for a year.
Formula is provided to the baby because if the mother breastfeeds the baby, she may pass the
virus in breast milk. Both the mother and the baby are given TB prevention drugs.

Summary
In this lesson we learnt that fertilisation is when the sperm and the ovum meet to form a
zygote. It is also called conception or fusion. The zygote is then implanted into the uterus
where it will grow. Pregnancy/ gestation period in human beings is nine months. The names
given to the stages of growth and development of the baby inside the womb are Zygote,
Morula, Blastula, Embryo and Foetus. At birth the woman experiences labour, where she will
experience contractions, which will let the amniotic fluid out, then the baby and the afterbirth
consisting of the placenta and the amnion.

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Sometimes women have multiple births, when they give birth to two identical babies, the
babies are called identical twins, and if the babies are not identical they are called fraternal
twins. A pregnant woman has to receive antenatal care as well as medical care so that she
and the baby are both healthy. She has to eat a balanced diet in order to give the baby all the
nutrients it needs like proteins, calcium, carbohydrates and water. She also has to stay away
from drugs that could harm the baby or slow its growth and development.
After birth the baby has to be taken care of by breastfeeding or giving bottle milk exclusively
for the first six months and then weaned by slowly introducing solids. During this time
immunisation should be done to prevent disease contraction. In the case of HIV there is a
programme that the mother can do to stop transmission of the virus to the baby before birth
and at labour.

Glossary
Antenatal care: Care given to a woman through the gestation period
Breech birth: The kind of birth whereby the feet of the foetus come out before the rest of
the body
Health Facility: A place where people can obtain medical help and information e.g. Clinic,
hospital
Immunisation: Making somebody resistant to diseases
Labour pains: Pain and discomfort caused by the contractions of the muscles of the uterus
as a woman gives birth
Normal birth: When the foetus is expelled from the woman’s body with the head coming
out first
PMTCT (Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission): Reduction of the risk of HIV
carried from the mother to the unborn baby during pregnancy and at birth
STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections): Diseases passed from one person to another
during sexual intercourse
TB (Tuberculosis): One of the opportunistic diseases that infect a person with AIDS.

Self-assessment Exercise 2
[Total marks: 15]
1. What is the time between fertilisation and birth called? [1 mark]
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

2. Which comes first, morula or blastula? [1 mark]

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

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3. During pregnancy, which part separates the foetus blood from the mother‘s? [1 mark]
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

4. Explain how identical twins come to be. [2 marks]

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

5. How are proteins an important part of the woman’s diet during pregnancy? [2 marks]
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

6. Fill in the table below with the advantages and the disadvantages of breastfeeding a
baby [6 marks]

Advantages of Disadvantages of breastfeeding

breastfeeding
A
B
C

7. According to the Botswana immunisation schedule, when is measles immunised

against? [2 marks]
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

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Lesson 3
Sexual Behaviour Problems

i Introduction
Hello learner! By now you already know a lot about Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH)
as discussed in Lesson 1 and 2 of this unit. In our health facilities there is a special section
that deals specifically with sex related issues. In this section there is information on various
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). You can also visit your local clinic to get information
on sexual reproductive health. In this lesson we are going to share that information. You are
going to learn about some STIs and about AIDS in particular. Pamphlets on STIs obtained
from your local clinic or hospital can greatly assist you through this lesson. Take time to go
and search for suitable ones.

Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson you should be able to:
• define the concept “sexually transmitted infections” (STIs)
• describe the signs, transmission and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases:
syphilis, gonorrhoea, herpes and thrush
• discuss AIDS as a sexually transmitted infection
• describe the medical conditions of advanced HIV and AIDS
• distinguish between being HIV positive and having AIDS
• identify opportunistic infections associated with HIV and AIDS
• identify programmes in place for the treatment of HIV and AIDS conditions

Lesson Contents
1.0 Sexually Transmitted Infections 27
2.0 Summary 32
Glossary 32
Self-assessment Exercise 3 33

1.0 Sexually Transmitted Infections

In this section we are going to discuss sexually transmitted infections. Learner, do you know
what these are? If you do not know, you will know as we continue. But you must be knowing
sickness is. A sick person is a person who is not completely healthy. The person is infected by
germs that cause diseases. Disease causing germs infect people through different ways. Some
germs are carried in the air, some are carried in water and some are passed on from contact
with another infected person. Sexually Transmitted Infections are diseases that are passed

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from an infected person to another through unprotected sexual intercourse. A pregnant

woman may also pass the germs to her unborn baby in the uterus and at birth.

Do you understand what unprotected sexual intercourse is?

__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Unprotected sexual intercourse means having sex without using contraceptives that stop
mixing of body fluids. Remember in lesson 1 of this unit we talked about contraceptives such
as condoms, which give protection during sex.
Sexually Transmitted Infections are called STIs in short. They can also be called Sexually
Transmitted Diseases (STDs) or Venereal Diseases (VDs). In this lesson we will just refer to
them as STIs.
There are many STIs, caused by different disease causing micro organisms. All these
STIs can be prevented by abstaining from sex or through using protective contraceptives
during sexual intercourse. In this lesson we are going to discuss the STIs called Syphilis,
Gonorrhoea, Herpes, Thrush and AIDS. It is very important for you to know the causes, the
symptoms and the treatment given for each of these diseases.
Causes refer to the micro organisms or the germs that infect the body, leading to the disease.
The symptoms are the signs that show on one’s body when infected. Treatment means the
medication that is given to reduce the symptoms or to cure the disease.
Now let us move on and discuss the different types of STIs. We will focus on the signs,
transmission and treatment ofeach STI.

1.1 Syphilis
(a) Cause
• Syphilis is an STI caused by bacteria.

(b) Symptoms
Syphilis goes through stages starting with the primary stage, followed by the secondary
stage a few months later and the tertiary stage after some years. There are different
symptoms for each of the stage.

Stage Symptoms
primary A painless lump forms next to the
sexual organs
secondary • Rash appears all over the body
• A person may have a sore throat
• White spots develop inside the mouth

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tertiary • Blindness
• Heart disease
• Mental diseases

• Giving birth to a dead baby if the woman was pregnant

Treatment
Syphilis is treated with antibiotics at early stages

1.2 Gonorrhoea
• Gonorrhoea like syphillis is caused by bacteria. Let us go into the signs which show
that one has gonorrhoea.

(a) Symptoms
Someone who has gonorrhoea will experience the following:
• has a white discharge coming from the vagina or penis
• has a burning sensation when passing urine
• May become sterile if the disease is not treated.
• Some people, more especially women may not show any symptoms at all.

(b) Treatment
This disease is treated with antibiotics, just like the disease syphilis because they are both
caused by bacteria. Note that the bacteria that cause them are different.

Define the term sterile

__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

A condition for both males and females whereby they are unable to bear children

1.3 Herpes
Herpes is sometimes referred to as genital herpes. It is caused by a virus

(a) Symptoms
Some of the symptoms which show that one has herpes are:
• Painful sores on the sexual organs
• Pain when passing urine

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(b) Treatment
Viral infections have no cure, but the outbreak of the sores can be treated with anti viral
creams applied to the affected areas to reduce the inflammation and the itching.

1.4 Thrush
• Thrush is caused by a fungus

(a) Symptoms
If somebody has thrush they will have:
• Discharge coming from the sexual organs
• Itchy sexual organs

(b) Treatment
The use of fungal creams applied on the sexual organs

1.5 AIDS
AIDS which is Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome is caused by a virus called HIV or
Human Immunodeficiency Virus. AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease because one can get
it through unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected person. There are other ways of
contracting the virus that causes AIDS though.
These are:
• Sharing needles and other skin piercing objects
• Getting in contact with infected fluids from the sexual organs
• Passage from mother to child during pregnancy
• Getting fed from infected breast milk
• Obtaining infected blood during a blood transfusion

The next question that I want us to deal with is what happens after one has contacted AIDS.

(a) Medical conditions of advanced HIV and AIDS

Long after being infected with the virus, a person with fully blown AIDS will show signs of
diseases with the most common symptoms being:
• Night sweats, f
• ever and other flu symptoms,
• Extreme tiredness or fatigue, Rash,
• Swollen glands and Dehydration and constant Diarrhoea leading to severe loss of
weight

(b) Being HIV positive and having AIDS

A person can be infected with HIV, but not having AIDS. The signs of infection only show
after a long time. Signs of infection may show after months or even after several years
depending on each person.

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For people to know if they carry the HIV, they have to test for HIV presence in their blood.
The test results can either be positive or negative. HIV positive means the virus is present in
the blood, and HIV negative means the virus is not present in the blood. People need to take a
blood test if they want to know if they have HIV or not, you cannot tell if a person is infected
by just looking at them.
HIV positive people have their immune system weakened by the virus, this weakening makes
it impossible for the body to resist other diseases, and it is at this stage that we say the person
has developed AIDS. In other words, the advanced stage of HIV infection is the one known
as AIDS.
from your experience, can one tell an HIV positive person by just looking at them?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
No, an HIV positive person does not show signs of infection.

(i) The opportunistic infections associated with HIV and AIDS

The diseases that attack the body of an HIV positive person are called AIDS related diseases.
They are a collection of diseases resulting from the breakdown of a person’s immune
system after HIV has weakened it. They attack the person when the white blood cells, which
normally protect people against infections, have been destroyed. They take an opportunity
from a defenceless body and hence are also known as opportunistic diseases. These diseases
can also be called indicator diseases because they show when a person who is infected with
HIV has AIDS. The diseases attack different organs of the body like the lungs, brain, eyes and
the skin.
These diseases are:
• Cancer,
• Pneumonia,
• Tuberculosis (TB) and bowel infections

(ii) The treatment of HIV and AIDS conditions

There is no known cure for AIDS. Symptoms for the opportunistic diseases can be reduced
in people with AIDS, but people re-infected on many occasions eventually die. To reduce
the spread of HIV in the body clinics and hospitals give out ARVs (Anti Retro Virals) for
free. This is referred to as ART (Anti Retroviral Therapy). ART is a combination of ARV
medicines that are taken by an HIV positive person to reduce the amount of the virus in the
body. It also prevents opportunistic diseases and maintains a person‘s immune system. ART is
taken for the rest of the person’s life to keep them alive for a long time.

Apart from just taking ART, HIV positive people need to do the following:
• Eat balanced diets that will provide them with necessary nutrients
• Take regular body exercises that will help strengthen their bodies
• Always use condoms when having sexual intercourse to stop re-infections
• Treat any STIs they may have

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• Rest as often as possible

• Get as much help and support from agencies dealing with HIV and AIDS in the
country
• Avoid the use of social drugs that could weaken their immunity further
The agencies where information, help and support can be obtained from are ; Health facilities
like:
• clinics and hospitals,
• SRH departments, Guidance and counselling centres,
• BONEPWA(Botswana network for people living with HIV/AIDS),
• COCEPWA(Coping centre for people living with HIV/AIDS)

Summary
We have come to the end of this lesson, let us go over the main points of what we have
learned from the lesson. Sexually Transmitted Infections are diseases that are passed from
one person to the other through unprotected sexual intercourse. Syphilis and Gonorrhoea
are caused by bacteria, they can be treated with antibiotics. Herpes is caused by a virus and
Thrush is caused by a fungus, these are treated with creams which reduce the symptoms.

The virus Human Immuno Deficiency Virus (HIV) causes AIDS. People can be carriers of
the HIV virus, without showing signs of the disease AIDS. The signs show when a person
has fully blown AIDS. Some of these signs are as a result of the opportunistic diseases or
indicator diseases such as cancer, pneumonia and tuberculosis.

After infection with HIV, people need to live positively by observing risk free behaviour such
as refraining from the use of drugs, taking their medication properly and eating healthy food.
Information on how to take care of one’s body before and after HIV infection can be obtained
from different health facilities and support organisations.

Glossary

AIDS: Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome

ART: Anti Retroviral Therapy (A programme in place to give some HIV positive people
and AIDS patients ARVs and counselling)
ARVs: Anti- Retro Virals (drugs that reduce the AIDS symptoms)
HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Infected: Carrying a disease causing germ
Microorganism: A very small living thing
Sterile: Infertile or unable to have children.

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Self-assessment Exercise 3
[Total marks: 15]
1. Sexually Transmitted Infections can also be called _______________ or
____________ [2 Marks]

2. There are different germs that cause STIs, name the germs [3 marks]
_____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
3. Which STI shows symptoms according to stages? [1 Mark]
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

4. Which STI has painful sores on the sexual organs as one of its symptoms? [1 mark]
_____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

5. What does AIDS stand for? [1 Mark]

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

6. List the body fluids through which HIV/AIDS can spread [4 Marks]
_____________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

7. What is the best method of preventing infection from STIs and AIDS? [1 Mark]
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

8. What do you understand by

(a) Balanced diet [1 Mark]
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
(b) HIV positive [1 Mark]
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

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Answers to Self-assessment Exercises

Self-assessment Exercise 1

1. (a) Uterus [2 marks]

(b) Fallopian tube

2. Testes hang below the body so that they keep the sperms below body temperature.
[1 mark]
3. (a) Cell membrane
(b) Cytoplasm
(c) Nucleus [3 marks]

4. (a) Growth of facial hair

(b) Deepening of voice
(c) Development of muscles [3 marks]

5. Fertile period is the time in a woman’s menstrual period where the meeting of the
sperm and the ovum is highly likely to result in a zygote or to produce a baby.
[2 marks]
6. Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when ovulation and menstruation stops
[1 mark]
7. Menopause occurs around the age 45 to 50 [1 mark]

8. The intra uterine device does not prevent sexually transmitted infections. [1 mark]

9. The safest method of birth control is total abstinence [1 mark]

Self-assessment Exercise 2
1. Pregnancy/gestation [1 mark]
2. Morula [1 mark]
3. Placenta [1 mark]
4. One sperm fertilises one egg forming a zygote, which then separates during cell
division [2 marks]
5. Proteins help build the body of the foetus growing inside the uterus of the pregnant
woman. [2 marks]

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JC: Science Unit 4

6.
Advantages of breastfeeding Disadvantages of breastfeeding
The milk is free If the mother is not there, the baby will not
be fed
The milk is always ready to be given to the Diseases can pass on from the mother to the
baby baby
The milk contains enough nutrients to It is not easy to feed the baby in public
nourish the baby places
[6 marks]
7. At 9 months and 18 months after birth [2 marks]

Self-assessment exercise 3
1. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and Venereal Diseases (VDs) [2 marks]
2. Bacteria, fungi and viruses [3 marks]
3. Syphilis [1 mark]
4. Herpes [1 mark]
5. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome [1 mark]
6. Blood, semen, vaginal discharge and breast milk [4 marks]
7. Abstaining from sexual intercourse [1 mark]
8. (a) A meal containing all the necessary nutrients needed by the body [1 mark]
(b) When the HIV has entered a person’s body [1 mark]

35 ©2014 BOCODOL
JC: Science Unit 4

References
Chey, Y.T, (2008) Biology easy Study Notes. Singapore Redspot Publishing.
Kerrod R, (1996). New Science Library: Living Things.Illinois:Ferguson Publishing
Company.
Prophet, R.B et al, (2009) Intergrated Science: A Junior Secondary Science Course Book 1.
Gaborone: Macmillan Publishing Company.
Sebastian, A.R, (2008) Biology Easy Study Notes. Redspot Publishing: Singapore
Van Zyl E.J et al, (2009) Intergrated Science : Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki

36 ©2014 BOCODOL