Abstract
BackgroundHong Kong lacks comprehensive school-based sexuality education. Recent public health concerns have brought the inadequacies of sex education in Hong Kong to the forefront. The aim of the proposed study is to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a comprehensive school-based sexuality education program in Hong Kong.MethodsThe proposed study is a prospective longitudinal study implemented in six secondary schools in Hong Kong over two academic years. The study adopts an ecological approach providing informational workshops for students, teachers and school management, social workers and guidance counsellors and parents. Study outcomes will be evaluated through pre- and post-tests.ResultsKey outcomes of interest among students include sexual health knowledge, awareness of values motivating healthy sexual decisions, understanding and efficacy of sexual communication and intention to use contraception. Among school employees and parents key outcomes include self-efficacy to engage in sexual health discussions with students/children, sexual health knowledge and awareness of Hong Kong community sexual health resources.ConclusionsThe proposed study will result in the development of a tested school-based culturally relevant comprehensive sexual health education program. Ultimately, this program aims to not only empower adolescents and their trusted adults in building a supportive environment for sexual health promotion but also construct a learning network to generate longitudinal evidence for the effectiveness of comprehensive sexuality education in improving sexual health outcomes. The program has the potential for expansion through widespread adoption in Hong Kong schools to benefit more adolescents and reduce the medical and societal burdens related to crisis pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and sexual abuse.
Highlights
Hong Kong lacks comprehensive school-based sexuality education
As Che concludes in her examination of sex education in Hong Kong schools, “the importance of sex education has always been subsidiary as it is not an examination subject.”
In addition to face-to-face interaction with students, we have developed four short videos to complement our workshop teaching materials
Summary
Hong Kong lacks comprehensive school-based sexuality education. Recent public health concerns have brought the inadequacies of sex education in Hong Kong to the forefront. The aim of the proposed study is to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a comprehensive school-based sexuality education program in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is considered ‘Asia’s world city’ and the most westernized Chinese society due to its heritage as a former British colony. Hong Kong adolescents generally have a higher age at first sex and fewer sexual experiences than in western contexts. As Che concludes in her examination of sex education in Hong Kong schools, “the importance of sex education has always been subsidiary as it is not an examination subject.” [5] Individual schools have the flexibility to tailor the sexual education approach, content and delivery mode in accordance with their background, mission, ethos and resources [4]
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