Pacific Youth Redefine Sexual Health with Pleasurenesia Guide

Teenage pregnancy rates in parts of the Pacific are far higher than global averages. In Fiji alone, 858 cases were recorded in 2024, nearly double the previous year’s figure. A new guide called Pleasurenesia has now been published to address these challenges by exploring pleasure, sexuality, and wellbeing in the region. A group of young Pacific people developed Pleasurenesia to reframe discussions on sexual health. The guide presents seven principles arranged around a woven mat, symbolising interconnection and shared meaning. It treats pleasure as the basis for conversations about consent, communication, bodily autonomy, and safe relationships.

The framework is designed to be adaptable, recognising the diversity of Pacific contexts. It serves as a resource for development practitioners, donors, and policymakers working on health and rights in the region. The need for such tools is urgent, as HIV infections among 15 to 29-year-olds are rising.

Access to contraception remains unequal, with unmet needs in rural and outer island communities reaching 40 to 60%. High rates of gender-based violence in Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and Vanuatu—often between 60 to 70%—further highlight the importance of these discussions. The Pleasurenesia guide offers a new approach to sexual health education in the Pacific. It aims to reduce teenage pregnancies, improve access to contraception, and address rising HIV rates. The framework provides a flexible tool for those working to improve health and rights across the region.