Comprehensive Sexuality Education Research Articles

Exploring Cambodian adolescents' perceptions on sex: a qualitative investigation

IntroductionInvolvement in sexual activities increases during adolescence in many countries, including Cambodia. The objective of this study is to explore the perspectives and interpretations of sex held by Cambodian adolescents within the context of their social norms and culture.MethodsA qualitative research design was used to conduct in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of 91 Cambodian adolescents aged between 15 and 19 years. Participants were recruited from rural areas, and data was collected through face-to-face interviews using semi-structured interview guides. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data.ResultsFour themes as perspectives of sex were identified: (1) Desire: Releasing sexual desire and stress; (2) relationship: an emotional connection and demonstration of love; (3) roles: responsibilities within a woman's marital duties; and (4) values: the value of virginity and future engagement. Cambodian adolescents' perspectives and interpretations of sex were deeply influenced by their social norms and cultural values. Men typically perceived sex through the lens of instinct and pleasure, while women often emphasized a deep sense of familial duty and held premarital sex to be morally unacceptable.DiscussionThe findings suggest that interventions aimed at improving the sexual health of Cambodian adolescents should be designed with an understanding of the social norms and cultural values that shape their perspectives and interpretations of sex. Such interventions should focus on promoting safe sex practices and providing accurate and comprehensive sexual education.

The Media and Sexual Violence Among Adolescents: Findings from a Qualitative Study of Educators Across Vietnam.

Growing access to technology and media has presented new avenues of influence on youth attitudes and norms regarding sexuality and sexual violence, as well as new technological pathways through which to perpetrate sexual violence. The aim of this research was to understand contextual influences on and needs for scale-up of sexual violence prevention programming in the media-violence context of Vietnam. We conducted 45 interviews with high school teachers (n = 15), university lecturers (n = 15), and affiliates from youth-focused community service organizations (n = 15) from across Vietnam. Additionally, we conducted four sector-specific focus groups with a sub-sample of interview participants (k = 4, n = 22). Media and technology were brought up consistently in relation to sexual violence prevention and sexual health information. Key informants noted that, in Vietnam, generational differences in acceptability of sex and lack of comprehensive sexuality education intersect with new technological opportunities for exposure to sexual information and media. This creates a complex landscape that can promote sexual violence through priming processes, instigate mimicry of violent media, and presents new opportunities for the perpetration of sexual violence though technology. Development of comprehensive sexual education, including violence prevention education, is imperative, with consideration of age-specific needs for Vietnamese youth.

Exploring HIV risk perception mechanisms among youth in a test-and-treat trial in Kenya and Uganda.

Understanding risk perception and risk-taking among youth can inform targeted prevention efforts. Using a health beliefs model-informed framework, we analysed 8 semi-structured, gender-specific focus group discussions with 93 youth 15-24 years old (48% male, 52% female), drawn from the SEARCH trial in rural Kenya and Uganda in 2017-2018, coinciding with the widespread introduction of PrEP. Highly connected social networks and widespread uptake of antiretrovirals shaped youth HIV risk perception. Amid conflicting information about HIV prevention methods, youth felt exposed to multiple HIV risk factors like the high prevalence of HIV, belief that people with HIV(PWH) purposefully infect others, dislike of condoms, and doubts about PrEP efficacy. Young women also reported minimal sexual autonomy in the context of economic disadvantages, the ubiquity of intergenerational and transactional sex, and peer pressure from other women to have many boyfriends. Young men likewise reported vulnerability to intergenerational sex, but also adopted a sexual conquest mentality. Comprehensive sexuality education and economic empowerment, through credible and trusted sources, may moderate risk-taking. Messaging should leverage youth's social networks to spread fact-based, gender- and age-appropriate information. PrEP should be offered alongside other reproductive health services to address both pregnancy concerns and reduce HIV risk.

How to decrease teenage pregnancy: rural perspectives in Ecuador.

This study aimed to understand the sociocultural context of teenage pregnancy in an Ecuadorian city with a large indigenous population, to gauge the acceptability of a multifaceted pregnancy prevention program for adolescents, and to elicit perspectives on the optimal program design from adolescents and adult key informants. We ascertained qualitative data via an online, electronic survey administered from August to September 2020. Open- and closed-ended questions elicited perspectives relating to burden of adolescent pregnancies, acceptability of pregnancy prevention programs, and optimal design of future programs. Twenty-four adolescents (13-19 years of age) and 15 adult key informants working in the healthcare, business, and education sectors in Cotacachi completed the survey. Survey responses were analyzed using a structural and in vivo coding, and an inductive approach to consensus-building around key themes. Most adolescent survey respondents (75%) believed that teen pregnancy is "fairly common" in Cotacachi, and 41.7% believed differences in teen pregnancy rates are not associated with ethnicity. In comparison, 66.7% of adult survey respondents said teen pregnancy disproportionately occurs among indigenous teenagers. Additionally, 45.8% of adolescent and 80% of adult survey respondents believed that a comprehensive sexual education program would help reduce teenage pregnancy rates by imparting reliable sexual health knowledge. Adult respondents noted that the past programs were unsuccessful in preventing teenage pregnancy because of these programs' inability to fully engage teenagers' attention, very short time duration, or inappropriate consideration of cultural context. In Cotacachi, Ecuador, a sexual health education program is both desired and feasible according to adult and teenager key informants. A successful program must adapt to the cultural context and engage youth participation and attention.

Provision of sexual health education in secondary schools: A multidisciplinary lens of stakeholders in southern highlands, Tanzania

IntroductionSchool-based sexual health education reduces risky sexual outcomes for in-school adolescents such as unintended premarital pregnancies, unsafe abortions, increased risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV and AIDS, early parenthood, a massive dropout from schools and untimely deaths. Despite the teaching of sexual health education in secondary schools, adolescents in Iringa Region are being exposed to increasing risks of sexual behaviours such as premarital sex, multiple sexual partners, and unprotected sex. This study examines stakeholders’ attitudes and beliefs toward providing sexual health education in secondary schools in Iringa Region, Tanzania. MethodsA qualitative approach under cross-sectional design was used. A purposive sampling technique was applied in selecting the Districts and participants for the study while simple random was used in the selection of schools. The participants were purposively selected depending on their position and knowledge of the subject matter. This study had 50 participants in total, 36 of them were teachers (6 from each school) who participated in focus group discussions (FGDs). After that, in-depth interviews with 14 participants were also conducted including 6 headmasters/mistresses, 6 healthcare professionals and 2 District secondary education officers. All FGDs and in-depth interviews used standardized questions to elicit information. The collected data were audio-recorded through tape recorders, transcribed, and translated into English. An initial coding matrix was developed and refined throughout the coding process. Transcripts were coded and analyzed using the content analysis approach. ResultsFindings from this study revealed all stakeholders having positive attitudes toward the provision of sexual health education in secondary schools. Results also revealed participants in favour of adolescents being taught several topics except for homosexuality. Findings on the appropriate age to start learning sexual health education revealed participants having trouble in fixing the right age, however, they said, at least 5 through 10 years before a child initiates sexual activity. ConclusionThe study concludes that stakeholders in the study areas have a positive attitude towards the provision of sexual health education in secondary schools and want students to be taught a wide range of topics before they initiate sexual activity. It is recommended that age-appropriate comprehensive sexuality education be given to teenagers to provide them with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their sexuality. This requires concerted efforts from the school, government and community involvement in the provision of sexual health education to in-school adolescents.

An Analysis of Discourse Surrounding Oral Contraceptives on TikTok [ID 2683389

INTRODUCTION: The lack of comprehensive sex education in U.S. secondary schools has created large knowledge gaps in reproductive health, leading many adolescents and young adults to turn to social media platforms, such as TikTok, for information about contraception. This cross-sectional study aims to provide a descriptive content analysis of the quality and reliability of oral contraceptive health information on TikTok. METHODS: One thousand TikTok videos listed under various search terms related to oral contraceptives were screened. Data including engagement metrics such as views, likes, comments, saves, and shares were recorded. Video content, including contraceptive methods discussed, efficacy, tolerability, and side effects, was recorded. Two reviewers independently used a modified DISCERN criteria and Global Quality Scale (GQS) to assess the quality and reliability of information for each video. According to the IRB, this project has been approved and exempt from further review. RESULTS: Five hundred seventy-four videos were analyzed after applying exclusion criteria. Videos had a median length of 27 seconds and received a median of 166 views per day. Video creators were 83.3% female and 58.7% White. 49.8% of videos discussed adverse effects, whereas only 27.5% discussed positive effects. The mean modified DISCERN score was 1.63±1.062 and the mean GQS score was 2.28±1.374. Health care professionals had significantly higher DISCERN and GQS scores than non-health care professionals; however, they received fewer views and likes on their videos (P<.001). CONCLUSION: TikTok videos related to oral contraceptive health had low quality and reliability of information. The majority of videos were made by non-health care providers, and the most common topic discussed was adverse effects of contraception. Videos made by health care professionals contained more reliable contraceptive information but received less engagement than videos made by non-health care professionals. Health care providers should consider the prevalence of poor quality information about oral contraceptives on social media when counseling and educating patients about reproductive health.

Eugenics, Sex and Family Life Education, and Juvenile Delinquency in Los Angeles County, California

AbstractThis glimpse into sex education in the Los Angeles region illustrates the eugenic ideas about racially “fit” reproduction that emerged in family life curricula during the Second World War. Ideas about eugenic reproduction in public schools responded to broader cultural fears about increasing divorce rates, criminality, immigration, and birthright citizenship. Eugenics in sex and family life education, importantly, portrayed a woman’s choice of mate as a civic responsibility, a move that paved the way for future conflicts about teaching gender and sexuality in public school sex education. Amid a half-century-long conflict over abstinence-only versus comprehensive sex education in public schools, topics like genetics and heredity have come to be widely accepted by both sides—recognized as a presumably value-neutral staple of sex education in US public schools. Yet recent innovations in genetic and reproductive technologies, as well as the conflict over trans and queer youth in the United States, challenge the assumption that teaching genetics and heredity in public schools really is “value neutral.”

Empowering youth through sexuality and leadership education: Approaches and outcomes

Empowering youth through sexuality and leadership education is crucial for their holistic development and well-being. This paper provides an overview of approaches and outcomes related to empowering youth in these areas. Effective approaches to empowering youth through sexuality and leadership education include comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), youth-friendly services, peer education, and leadership training. CSE equips young people with accurate, age-appropriate information about sexuality, relationships, and reproductive health, enabling them to make informed decisions. Youth-friendly services provide confidential, nonjudgmental health services tailored to young people's needs. Peer education involves young people teaching their peers about sexual and reproductive health, encouraging open dialogue. Leadership training fosters skills such as communication, decision-making, and advocacy, empowering youth to become leaders in their communities. Empowering youth through sexuality and leadership education leads to various positive outcomes. It improves sexual and reproductive health outcomes, including reduced rates of unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and HIV/AIDS. It also promotes gender equality and empowerment, as young people learn about their rights and how to challenge harmful gender norms. Additionally, sexuality and leadership education enhance young people's self-esteem, communication skills, and ability to make informed decisions, preparing them for future leadership roles. Empowering youth through sexuality and leadership education is essential for their development and well-being. By providing comprehensive education and support, we can help young people navigate challenges, make healthy choices, and become empowered leaders in their communities.

Digital platforms and reproductive health information: Navigating legal and ethical boundaries

In today's digital age, the dissemination of reproductive health information has shifted significantly to online platforms, offering unparalleled accessibility while presenting a myriad of legal and ethical challenges. This paper investigates the complex interplay between digital platforms and reproductive health information, navigating the intricate landscape of laws and regulations such as HIPAA and GDPR, and examining the challenges in enforcing these regulations across diverse platforms and jurisdictions. Ethical considerations loom large, necessitating a delicate balance between accuracy, cultural sensitivity, and inclusivity to meet the diverse needs and perspectives of users while safeguarding their privacy and confidentiality. Through case studies and examples, real-world challenges faced by digital platforms, including misinformation, censorship dilemmas, and data privacy breaches, are explored, highlighting the importance of clear policies, robust data protection measures, and stakeholder collaboration. Looking ahead, the paper identifies future trends and recommendations for enhancing the responsible dissemination of reproductive health information online, advocating for comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education and ongoing research to address emerging challenges effectively. In conclusion, concerted efforts from stakeholders are called for to prioritize the responsible provision of reproductive health information online, ensuring that legal, ethical, and public health considerations are balanced effectively in the digital realm.

Geographically weighted regression analysis to assess hotspots of early sexual initiation and associated factors in Ethiopia

BackgroundEarly sexual initiation (ESI) causes unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STI), high risk of depression and anxiety, developmental delays, lack of emotional maturity, and difficulty in pursuing education. This study aims to analyze the geographically weighted regression and associated factors of ESI of women in Ethiopia. MethodsThe study utilized data from the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey, 2016. It included a weighted sample of 11,775 women. Spatial regression was carried out to determine which factors are related to hotspots of ESI of women. To identify the factors associated with ESI, a multilevel Poisson regression model with robust variance was conducted. An adjusted prevalence ratio (APR) with its 95 % confidence interval was presented. ResultsThe prevalence of ESI was 75.3 % (95%CI: 74.6 %, 76.1 %), showing notable spatial variation across different regions of Ethiopia. Areas of significant hotspots of ESI were identified in Western and Southern Tigray, most parts of Amhara, Southern, Central and Western Afar, Eastern Gambella, and North Western SNNPR. The significant variables for the spatial variation of ESI were; being single, rural residence, and having no formal education of the women. Factors including; wealth index, marital status, khat chewing, education level, residence, and region were associated significantly with ESI in the multilevel robust Poisson analysis. ConclusionA higher proportion of ESI in women was found. Public health interventions must be made by targeting hotspot areas of ESI through increasing health care access and education (specifically among rural residents), developing a comprehensive sexual education, implementing policies and laws that outlaw early marriage, and mass community-based programs to increase awareness about the importance of delaying sexual activity.

Adolescent Premarital Sexual Behavior: A Narrative Review of Challenges, and the Vital Role of Comprehensive Sex Education in Promoting Health and Well-being in Islamic Countries

Introduction: Adolescents, comprising 1.2 billion globally, face unique challenges during the transformative phase of sexual maturation. This review emphasizes the prevalence of premarital sexual behavior among adolescents, with a focus on Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and Arab nations. The vulnerable nature of this age group is underscored, considering the risks of unsafe abortions, unintended pregnancies, and sexually transmitted diseases. Objective: The primary objective is to offer a comprehensive understanding of premarital sexual behavior in adolescents. By synthesizing recent developments and key findings, this review aims to inform specialists and non-specialists, foster societal dialogue, and serve as a resource for scholars and practitioners interested in adolescent sexual health. Methods: Utilizing PubMed and Google Scholar, an extensive literature search spanning 2018 to 2023 focused on keywords such as “adolescent AND sex” The inclusion criteria involved articles directly aligned with the review’s scope, leading to the identification of 20 relevant articles. Results: Factors influencing adolescent sexual behavior, and the impact of cultural, religious, and societal norms were explored. The importance of sex education, particularly comprehensive sexuality education, in addressing premarital sexual behavior emerged as a critical theme. The impact on adolescent health, both physical and mental, was also highlighted. Conclusions: Premarital sexual behavior among adolescents is a complex issue influenced by various internal and external factors. Comprehensive sexuality education, incorporating cultural and religious teachings, is crucial in promoting healthy decision-making and preventing negative consequences. The review emphasizes the need for ongoing discussions, further research, and improved sexual health education globally.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Adolescent Pregnancy Among an Indigenous Ethnic Group in Rural Nepal: A Community-based Cross-sectional Study.

The Chepang people, an indigenous ethnic group in Nepal, experience substantial marginalization and socioeconomic disadvantages, making their communities among the most vulnerable in the region. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with adolescent pregnancy in the Chepang communities of Raksirang Rural Municipality, Makwanpur District, Bagmati Province, Nepal. A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2022 to April 2023 among 231 Chepang women selected using simple random sampling from Raksirang Rural Municipality. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for interviewing the mothers. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed, using odds ratios with 95% CIs. Variables with a variation inflation factor of more than 2 and a p-value of more than 0.25 were excluded from the final model. The study revealed that the prevalence rate of adolescent pregnancy among Chepang women was 71.4% (95% CI, 65.14-77.16). A large percentage of participants (72.73%) were married before the age of 18 years. Poor knowledge of adolescent pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 10.3; 95% CI, 8.42-14.87), unplanned pregnancy (AOR, 13.3; 95% CI, 10.76-19.2), and lack of sex education (AOR, 6.57; 95% CI, 3.85-11.27) were significantly associated with adolescent pregnancy. The prevalence of adolescent pregnancy among the Chepang community was high. These findings highlighted the importance of raising awareness about the potential consequences of adolescent pregnancy and implementing comprehensive sexuality education programs for preventing adolescent pregnancies within this community.

How Prepared Are Teachers to Provide Comprehensive Sexual Health Education?

Quality sexual health education requires that the curriculum is taught by knowledgeable, skilled, and comfortable educators. However, we know little about teachers’ preparedness to provide comprehensive sexual health education. We surveyed 412 current elementary, middle, and high school teachers in one Canadian province to examine their attitudes toward, training for, and experience with providing comprehensive sexual health education. Teachers reported very positive attitudes toward sexual health education and most were in favor of introducing age-appropriate sexual health education in elementary school. Teachers reported little to no formal training at either the pre-service or in-service level but had engaged in self-directed learning. A multiple regression analysis found that teachers who were younger, with more experience providing sexual health education, positive attitudes toward sexual health education, and in-service training reported engaging in significantly more self-directed learning. Teachers with more experience providing sexual health education, positive attitudes toward sexual health education, pre-service training, and self-directed learning reported greater comfort in providing sexual health education. Although these results support the many calls for better teacher training, they also suggest that efforts to improve the quality of sexual health education instruction might be better focused on enhancing access to quality materials for self-directed learning.

Access to family planning services and associated factors among young people in Lira city northern Uganda

BackgroundAccess to family planning services among young people is crucial for reproductive health. This study explores the access and associated factors among young people in Lira City, Northern Uganda.Methods and materialsA mixed-methods study was conducted in March to April 2022. Quantitative data were collected using a structured questionnaire from 553 participants aged 15–24 years. Qualitative data were obtained through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Data analysis included univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses for quantitative data, while interpretative phenomenological analysis was used for qualitative data.ResultsOverall, 31.7% of the respondents had a good perceived access to family planning services, with 64.6% reporting perceived availability of FP methods. Challenges included lack of privacy (57.7%), fear of mistreatment (77.2%), and decision-making difficulties (66.2%). Among females, good perceived access to FP services was less likely among urban residents (AOR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.09–0.53), Christian respondents (AOR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.01–0.36), Muslim respondents (AOR: 0.07, 95% CI: 0.01–0.55) and respondents with poor attitude to FP services (AOR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.24–0.64), but more likely among respondents with a sexual a partner (AOR: 4.48, 95% CI: 2.60–7.75). Among males, good perceived access to FP services was less likely among respondents living with parents (AOR: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.05–0.67) but more likely among respondents with good knowledge of FP services (AOR: 2.28, 95% CI: 1.02–5.32). Qualitative findings showed that three themes emerged; knowledge of family planning methods, beliefs about youth contraception and, friendliness of family planning services.ConclusionThe study revealed a substantial gap in perceived access to family planning services among young people in Lira City. Barriers include privacy concerns, fear of mistreatment, and decision-making difficulties. Tailored interventions addressing urban access, religious beliefs for females, and knowledge enhancement for males are essential. Positive aspects like diverse FP methods and physical accessibility provide a foundation for targeted interventions. Youth-friendly services, comprehensive sexual education, and further research are emphasized for a nuanced understanding and effective interventions in Northern Uganda.

Pubertal status and body image: An inquiry into experiences of adolescents in Ghana and Kenya.

The current study uses a mixed method design to investigate Kenyan and Ghanaian adolescents' experiences of puberty, and the relations between gender, country of origin, pubertal status, and body image appraisals (N = 86; Ghana = 46, Kenya = 40, 52.9% female aged 13 and 14). Qualitative results revealed seven major themes; puberty means a universal period of growth and transition into adulthood but also evokes negative emotions of shame, anxiety, and embarrassment, being in sync with peers during puberty is important and knowing that others in their lives similarly experience puberty is reassuring. Quantitative results revealed significant gender and country differences in pubertal status and body image. Ghanaian adolescents had more advanced pubertal status and more positive body image appraisals compared to Kenyan adolescents. Moderation analysis results revealed that for the Kenyan sample, post-pubertal males had less favorable body image appraisals than their counterparts who were still pre pubertal whilst for females, post-pubertal girls had more favorable body images than their counterparts. No such effects were observed with the Ghanaian sample. The findings highlight the need for context considerations in understanding body image during the pubertal transition to help identify relevant protective factors for possible interventions. The results affirm the importance of positive body image promotions for adolescents within the African context and suggest the need for much more comprehensive sex education with gender-specific components to help allay fears about puberty, thus preventing the development of possible adaptation problems.

Preparing to teach relationships and sexuality education: student teachers’ perceived knowledge and attitudes

ABSTRACT Children have a right to Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE). A key place for this to occur is in schools, and teachers’ comfort and competence in teaching is critical to delivering high-quality CSE. Good quality Initial Teacher Education (ITE) should provide student teachers with a strong foundation for the delivery of CSE and the creation of safe, supportive, and inclusive classrooms and whole-school cultures. This study examined primary ITE students’ perceptions of the quality of input, knowledge and confidence, and attitudes towards Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE). The study was conducted in Ireland where RSE is mandatory in the primary school curriculum. The level of input student teachers received in RSE was perceived to be insufficient, and less than that provided in other curricular areas. Student teachers reported moderate to high levels of perceived knowledge and comfort in RSE domains and high levels of commitment and intention to teach RSE once qualified. They overwhelmingly agreed that children and young people have the right to RSE. Student teachers reported being particularly unprepared to teach RSE to students with special educational needs and sexual and gender minority students. Recommendations are made for strengthening RSE input in ITE programmes.

Effects of an Animation-Based Comprehensive Sexuality Education Package: A 2-Year Repeated Intervention Study.

Preadolescents, who are in a transitional phase of development, may experience higher exposure to heterosexual interactions while facing higher risks regarding misinformation in sexual knowledge and unsafe engagement in sexual activities. There is a deficiency in the availability of qualified educators and age-appropriate teaching materials for sexuality education in China. We implemented an animation-based comprehensive sexuality education package among preadolescents aged 9 to 12 years from eight schools in Anhui, China. The first round of intervention included 1,835 participants, lasting 2 months from September to November 2020. A total of 374 participants, accounting for 52% of the intervention group, received a second round of intervention in September 2021. Participants completed immediate follow-up assessment and 1-year follow-up assessment to assess changes in their sexual knowledge, attitudes, and other outcomes. Propensity score matching and difference-in-difference analysis were performed to determine the short- and long-term impacts. Significant improvements were observed for both sexual knowledge and sexual attitudes in the immediate follow-up. There was no significant effect on pornography-seeking behavior or awareness of experiencing sexual abuse. After 1 year, the effect was sustained for sexual knowledge, but slightly declined for sexual attitudes. The second intervention significantly improved sexual knowledge; however, no significant change in sexual attitudes, pornography-seeking behavior, or awareness of experiencing sexual abuse was observed. Our comprehensive sexuality education package was effective in improving sexual knowledge both immediately and 1 year after the intervention. Repeated intervention can be an effective strategy for promoting preadolescent health development regarding comprehensive sexuality education.

The Teaching of Comprehensive Sexuality Education: Basis for a Guidance Program on Sexuality Awareness

The government has acknowledged the necessity for a thorough approach to sexuality education. Incorporating it into the curriculum is one way to progressively give young people the power to make educated decisions. With this in mind, this study investigated the extent to which comprehensive sexuality education is taught to Grade 10 students, as well as the factors that typically influence these students' sexuality. The students' perceptions of the current benefits and drawbacks of comprehensive sexuality education were elicited, resulting in their appreciation of the contribution of school initiatives to their reawakening of human sexuality. The assessment results from the students became an input in the proposed school-based guidance program on sexuality education awareness.

Utah LGBQ + Youth Need Inclusive and Comprehensive Sex Education Opportunities: Results From the 2022 Utah College Retrospective Sexual Behavior Survey

Sex education in Utah teaches abstinence as its primary source of pregnancy and STI prevention. This approach is heteronormative, thus excluding LGBTQ+ youth which has been found to adversely impacts LGBTQ+ outcomes. The current study sought to retrospectively examine the perceptions of the sufficiency of sex education received by Utahns, specifically examining their perceptions of five core topics often included in comprehensive sex education and how their experiences differed by demographics. We conducted a one-time survey, using a convenience sample of 18–21-year-olds who attended high school in Utah. The survey was disseminated at four universities across Utah. The results of our study (N = 1,091) found that LGBQ + participants reported more negative perceptions, or higher levels of disagreement, of sufficiency of learning about CSE topics compared to heterosexual participants. Alternatively, participants who identified as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints reported higher levels of agreement of being taught sufficient information about the five CSE topics. The results of the current study provide a rare examination of sex education in Utah and suggest the need for policy that supports inclusive sex education.

Socio-Economic and Demographic Determinants of Safe Sex Practices among Young Adults: Insights from Kampala International University, Western Campus

This study aimed to assess young adults' knowledge and practices that affect safe sex behavior among university students in Uganda, with a particular focus on Kampala International University Western Campus. The study was conducted at the university's Western Campus, involving medical students aged 19-25. The sample size was 249. The study used Raosoft's online sample size calculator and simple random sampling techniques to obtain respondents. Data collection involved self-administered questionnaires consisting of 29 closed-ended questions. The study found a negative relationship between socio-economic and demographic factors and safe sex behaviors among young adults at Kampala International University. However, the relationship between socio-demographic factors and safe sex behaviors was not statistically significant. The findings revealed a positive and significant relationship between knowledge, practice and safe sex behaviors among young adults at Kampala International University Western Campus. Recommendations include providing comprehensive sex education to all young adults at Kampala International University to enable them to learn about sexuality and the risks associated with it. Comprehensive sex education should be holistic, incorporating age-appropriate and culturally appropriate information about reducing the risk of being sexually unsafe. Keywords: Safe sex, young adult, university students, questionnaire, Uganda.