Preferred interlocutors in terms of sexuality Boys % Mother 4.0 Father 6.5 Siblings 0.8 Siblings and relatives 62.6 Other relatives 14.6 Total 100 Source: UNICEF, Survey on early pregnancy, Brazzaville, 1996. Girls% 13.1 1.5 2.3 60.3 15.0 100 Siblings are mostly preferred among boys (62.6%) as well as girls (60.3%) followed by other relatives (respectively 14.6% and 15.0%) before mothers who are mostly preferred by girls (13.1%) against 4.0% in boys. As regards to persons in whom one can confide in cases of intimate problem, the same survey shows more preference for friends (13.3%) among boys, against 16.0% among girls, before father (12.9%) among boys (20.3%) and (25.4%) for girls. In reality, friends take central stage in terms of channels of information on sexuality. The shame felt vis-à-vis one’s mother and sisters pushes towards friends from school or from the neighbourhood, especially when they are warmer and affectionate. Thus, the comprehensive survey of girl mothers revealed other channels of information, as follows: Table 41: Other information channels Advisers Frequencies Neighbourhood friends 35 School friends 27 Close female relative 13 School friends 8 Yourself by reading 4 Mother 4 Mother- Child Health Service 3 Church 1 Media 1 All 97 Source: UNICEF, Survey of early pregnancy, Brazzaville, 1996. % 36.1 27.8 13.4 8.3 4.1 4.1 3.1 1.0 1.0 100.0 The 2006 survey on the education of girls also revealed that key pupils and students’ advisers in terms of puberty are firstly the mother (50.6% of votes), followed by school and neighbourhood friends ( 17.0%) and by both parents (13.3%). The father intervenes only at 70%, while the other relatives precede (8.8%); school comes before the last position with 2.0% of responses. In any case, preference is established based on the closeness and intimacy that the girl built with the mother, sister, other female relative or friend. In the absence of formal, structured channel of information and training (for over twenty years, school programmes have abandoned sex education) it is not sure that these channels are reliable. The information is transmitted through word of mouth. Written materials are non-existent and the taboo is strong enough to block the establishment of reliable and mandatory networks (school, media). 119