Comprehensive Sex Education Programs Research Articles

Effectiveness of Psycho-Religious Sexuality Education upon Anger and Depression of Iranian Female Adolescents: The Relationship of Quality Family Relationships and Birth Order.

Sexually active adolescents tend to have a wider range of psychosocial problems, including depression, anger, poor academic achievement, low self-esteem, and substance use. Developing a high-quality and curriculum-based comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) program is of great importancefor adolescents following Iranian culture. Due to the lack of such an educational program, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of psycho-religious CSE upon anger and depression of Iranian female adolescents, as well as therelationship of quality family relationships and birth order. The research design is quasi-experimental with pre-test and post-test with experimental and control groups. The statistical population of this study comprised all Iranian female adolescents aged 15 to 18years in Mashhad who participated in this workshop voluntarily. For data collection, the Child and Adolescent Depression Inventory and Spielberger's State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI) were used. SPSS 21 software and analysis of variance (ANOVA) and covariance (ANCOVA) were used for data analysis. The results showed that there was a significant difference in the mean difference between depression and anger in the control and experimental groups (p-Value < 0.05). The results also showed a significant relationship between birth order and the quality of family relationships on depression and anger. Psycho-religious-based SE can reduce depression and anger in female students. These findings can be used in planning educational interventions with a psycho-religious-based approach to reducing anger, depressive symptoms and dangerous sexual behaviors among adolescents.

Leveraging Comprehensive Sexuality Education as a Tool for Knowledge, Equity, and Inclusion.

Sexual education programs in the United States are rooted in inequitable structures and are often inadequate at educating marginalized student groups such as students of color, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+), women, and disabled students. Current sexual education is irregularly implemented and often excludes or misrepresents the experiences of students with marginalized identities. This theoretical paper specifically discusses ways that sexual education has been harmful or exclusionary for marginalized student groups and how a shift toward making sexual education inclusive and equitable will improve outcomes for students of all identities. This paper discusses several recommendations on improving access to equitable sexual health education for all students including reviewing and improving sexual education curriculum and delivery, as well as the need for additional research focused on this topic. This article provides an overview on the current sexual education system, its inadequacies, and how comprehensive sexuality education programs can be leveraged as a tool for equity for students of all backgrounds, but particularly those who are underrepresented in sexual education curricula.

The Impact of Pornography Exposure on Adolescent Dating Behavior: In-sights from Beringin Jaya Village, Singing Hilir District, Kuantan Singingi Hilir Regency

This research investigates the intricate influence of pornography on the dating behavior of adolescents within the cultural context of Beringin Jaya Village, situated in the Singing Hilir District, Kuantan Singingi Hilir Regency, Indonesia. Employing a mixed-methods approach, both quantitative and qualitative methodologies were utilized to explore the perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors of adolescents regarding pornography exposure and its impact on their dating dynamics. The study revealed a significant prevalence of pornography exposure among adolescents, correlating with altered perceptions of relationships, communication patterns, and nuanced understandings of consent. It highlighted the delicate balance between preserving traditional cultural values and navigating the challenges posed by modern influences. Findings emphasized the urgency for culturally sensitive interventions, community-based initiatives, and comprehensive sex education programs tailored to address the specific challenges posed by pornography exposure. This research serves as a beacon for understanding the complexities of adolescent development within a culturally specific context, offering insights that extend beyond Beringin Jaya Village, guiding future interventions, and fostering healthy relationship dynamics among adolescents

County-Level School Sex Education Policy: A Single State Analysis of the Association with Adolescent Birth and Sexually Transmitted Infections

Substantial evidence supports comprehensive sex education programs as effective means of promoting adolescent sexual health, but evidence on the effect of state-level sex education policy is inconclusive. Multiple states in the U.S. afford local authority in school policy, and existing literature calls for investigation of the impact of local interpretation and implementation of sex education policy. This study is the first to assess the association between stated county policy and select adolescent sexual health outcomes. In this single state multivariate analysis, stated county policy was not significantly associated with adolescent birth or sexually transmitted infections. The incongruity of evidence between the impacts of sex education programs and policies on teen birth and STIs in Florida suggests that implementation of policy and delivery of sex education at the district or school level may not align with stated county policy and may be a critical mediating factor, confirming an area of essential future research in sex education.

Sexual behaviors of women who have sex with women: A qualitative explorative study

Sexual transmitted infections (STIs), including the human papillomavirus, are transmissible by female-to-female sexual contact, even though a common misperception is that women who have sex with women (WSW) are at lower risk for STIs. This study sought to further understand current sexual behaviors and protective mechanisms utilized by WSW. Incorporating a grounded theory approach, nineteen (N = 19) semistructured telephone interviews were conducted among WSW from four regions of the United States. Findings indicate that WSW were engaging in risky sexual behaviors due to limitations in knowledge, aversion to dental dams, gender bias, and perceived emotional connection. Implications suggest comprehensive sexuality education and community-based risk reduction education programs.

Dose Matters in Evaluation of a School-Based Adolescent Sexual Health Education Program.

ABSTRACTBACKGROUNDResearch on the effects of intervention dose on outcomes within adolescent sexual health education programming is lacking. Existing research on dose typically utilizes the number of sessions as a variable. In a school setting, there are scheduling limitations, student absences, and other logistical barriers that have the potential to affect the number of sessions for an intervention and, in turn, impact the efficacy of programming.METHODSThis article evaluates the effectiveness of a school‐based, peer‐led adolescent comprehensive sexual health education program, with a focus on dose. A repeated measures MANOVA was used to evaluate the effects of individual difference variables and intervention variables on changes in participants' knowledge and attitudes across 2 time points. Additionally, paired t‐tests were used to evaluate changes in specific behaviors.RESULTSResults indicated that knowledge improved following the intervention, and specifically larger doses, measured in minutes, of the intervention were associated with larger improvements in knowledge. There were no significant effects related to attitudes or behavioral outcomes.CONCLUSIONSThis study adds to the knowledge base by including analysis of how the dose of intervention may impact youth outcomes. Implications for school health practices and research are discussed.

Sexual Pleasure Matters (Especially for Women) — Data from the German Sexuality and Health Survey (GeSiD)

IntroductionSexual pleasure has been a neglected issue in sexual health policies. Emerging trends in public health, however, emphasize the importance of sexual pleasure in preventing negative sexual health outcomes.MethodsUsing data from the German Sexuality and Health Survey (GeSiD), we tested the assumption that sexual pleasure is associated with sexual health, including a special focus on the role of gender. Participants were interviewed about their sexual experiences and health between October 2018 and September 2019. The analytical sample included 3472 partnered and single women and men who had been sexually active with a partner in the past 12 months. We examined if sexual pleasure was associated with various sexual health indicators (i.e., communication about sexually transmitted infections (STIs), condom use, and absence of sexual problems).ResultsWomen reported less sexual pleasure than men. Results further indicate that sexual pleasure was associated with more sexual health indicators in women than in men.ConclusionsSupporting emerging trends in public health our results emphasize the importance of sexual pleasure in preventing negative sexual health outcomes.Policy Implications.To promote (especially women’s) sexual health, our results call for the implementation of comprehensive sexuality education programs that focus on more positive aspects of sex, such as sexual pleasure and agency.

Impacts of Re:MIX-A School-Based Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program Incorporating Young Parent Coeducators.

Latinx adolescents are at increased risk of teen pregnancy. This study evaluates the impact of Re:MIX, a comprehensive sexuality education program cofacilitated by professional health educators paired with young parent educators implemented with primarily Latinx youth in Texas. A cluster randomized trial was conducted with students in grades 8-10 in 57 classrooms across three schools. Students completed baseline, post-test, and long-term follow-up surveys to determine the impact of the program on behavioral outcomes-sexual experience and unprotected sex-and on mediating factors including intentions, attitudes, knowledge, and self-efficacy related to sexual activity and contraception. Re:MIX was implemented with fidelity and educators were well-received. At post-test, compared to control students, Re:MIX students were more likely to intend to use hormonal or long-acting contraceptive methods if they had sex, had greater reproductive health knowledge, had more confidence in their ability to ask for and give consent, and were more likely to know where to obtain contraception. Most findings were sustained at the long-term follow-up, but there were no impacts on behaviors. The implementation and impact findings highlight the promising approach of pairing young parent educators with experienced health educators for teen pregnancy prevention among Latinx students.

Bridging the Gap between Sexual Health Education and Clinical Services: Adolescent Perspectives and Recommendations.

Adolescents often lack access to accurate and appropriate sexual health information and services. Providing information about local clinical services during sexual health education classes is one strategy to increase awareness, yet many programs miss this opportunity. This study aims to learn about adolescents' experiences with sexual health education and their perceptions of barriers and facilitators to clinical care. Nine focus groups were conducted between April to July 2018 with 69 adolescents who had recently attended a comprehensive sexual health education program in California. Topics included information received about local clinics during class and barriers and facilitators to access care. Qualitative data were coded and analyzed for key themes and compared by sex and geographic location. The majority of participants (89%) were Latino and most reported receiving relevant information about clinical services and had positive impressions of local services. Several mentioned that this information increased the likelihood that they would access services if needed. Common barriers to clinic services included parental disapproval, stigma, embarrassment, and confidentiality concerns. Facilitators included peer and family support, confidentiality of services, awareness and education, and accessibility. Sexual health education programs can provide an important bridge to local clinic services and address adolescents' concerns.

Rural families’ thoughts about sexual development of their adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders

The study aims to determine rural families’ experiences regarding sexual development of their adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders. Thus, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 parents. Since the interviews included privacy issues, they were conducted one-to-one with the parents. The phenomenological method was used, depending on the research purpose. Inductive analysis was utilised in the analysis of the data obtained from the semi-structured interviews. Validity and reliability were included in all stages of data collection, breakdown and analysis. As a result, the families stated that their children exhibited inappropriate socio-sexual behaviours during adolescence; they strive to teach their children sexuality issues, although they do not know how and they generally prefer carrying their children along to prevent sexual abuse. Also, due to not knowing much about sexuality, they generally received their relatives’ support and requested comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) from special education teachers and other experts, especially about distinguishing good and bad people, menstruation and hiding sanitary pads. Although the literature reports that sexuality and its education are generally taboo, families in this study explained their thoughts on sexuality in full detail without tabooing. This makes the study different and meaningful, when compared to similar ones. The study was conducted in an eastern Turkey city with difficult access to special education. Thus, experts in rural areas are recommended to prepare and give necessary CSE programmes to families and individuals with special needs by conducting similar studies. These studies can be conducted not only with special education perspective but also in different disciplines. It is a basic human right for all individuals to receive CSE, thus as another recommendation, experts should give all children these courses in schools. &#x0D; &#x0D; Keywords: Comprehensive sexuality education, individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, parenting education, phenomenological design.

El Programa de Educación Sexual Integral en escuelas secundarias de Santa Rosa. La Pampa. ¿Hilos sueltos o trama en la institución?

This work is organized within the project Secondary education in The Pampa.Policies for educational inclusion: study of the modes of combination between officialprescriptions and the school context. It seeks to understand the processes ofappropriation of the Comprehensive Sexual Education Program (CSE) in the teachingpractices and dynamics of secondary school institutions in Santa Rosa.The inclusion of sex education in the current educational policies of our country,from the enactment of Law 26,150 in 2006, and the ESI program that was implementedin our province from Resolution No. 815/10, It involves delegating responsibilityin the school to impart complex knowledge such as sexuality. In this sense, the E.S.I,is presented as an educational policy of difficult and slow concretion in educationalinstitutions where those who inhabit them interpret it from their own symbolic frameworksand translate them or not into their practices.

IMPLEMENTATION OF SEXUAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR ADOLESCENTS IN INDONESIA: NARRATIVE REVIEW

Premarital sexual behavior adolescents in Indonesian continues to increase from year to year. If not addressed will have an impact on various aspects of physical, psychosocial and economic. This effect is seen in the incidence of unwanted pregnancy, abortion, dropping out of school and being infected with an STI. Various studies have shown that one of the efforts to overcome it by increasing adolescent knowledge about reproductive health. This study aims to examine the implementation of sexual education programs in adolescents to find the best methods that can be integrated into the Indonesian government program.The research method is literature review by analyzing 16 selected literature obtained from Google Scholar, J.Stor.org, Springerlink and Proquest. Criteria for articles chosen is relevant to the title, taken from 2014-2020.The literature review results found that the cause of the unsuccessful sexual education program for adolescents in Indonesia is related to the factors of cost, human resources, commitment, organizational structure and administration. Also in Indonesia sexual education is still part of the extra-curricular although WHO has recommended a comprehensive sexual education program (CSE) by involving all related components namely parents, schools, communities, government and adolescents themselves and integrated in the core curriculum. The CSE program needs to be strengthened by integrating cultural and religious norms and values, friendly education methods and other aspects.The recommendation of this research is to provide a sexual education curriculum and be included in the core curriculum of the school. In addition, it is necessary to create a framework for sexual education in adolescents starting from the family, school, community level and policy makers. For the success of the program so that the material and methods of sexual education are adjusted to the characteristics of adolescents, cultural factors, religion, norms and values ​​in the community.

How to ensure fidelity in implementing an evidence based teen pregnancy prevention curriculum

IntroductionThis paper describes implementation results as part of a larger three-arm, cluster randomized controlled trial that compared two curriculum interventions to prevent teen pregnancy with a control condition. The intervention of focus is an enhanced version of Reducing the Risk to Prevent Pregnancy, STD and HIV (Kirby, Barth, Leland, & Fetro, 1991; Langley et al., 2015), which is a comprehensive sex education program appropriate for youth ages 14–19. MethodIn order to standardize the delivery of this teen pregnancy prevention education curriculum to high-risk youth across 39 presentations, in 23 different community-based organizations, by dyads involving 16 facilitators, researchers utilized two implementation frameworks to guide program delivery and developed several fidelity measurement tools to assess adherence, dosage, quality of intervention delivery, participant responsiveness, and program differentiation. ResultsThese efforts resulted in high fidelity to the curriculum. There also were high levels of youth engagement as indicated both by self-reports and observed by facilitators who created cohesive groups. Results also found that training quality, alliance with facilitators and group cohesion positively impacted attitude change and gains in knowledge. DiscussionIssues related to balancing adherence to evidence-based curricula and being responsive to youth needs are discussed.

Pornography Use and Perceived Gender Norms Among Young Adolescents in Urban Poor Environments: A Cross-site Study

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to assess the prevalence of pornography use and its association with a range of perceived gender norms among adolescents aged 10–14 years across five urban poor settings globally. MethodsThe study includes 9,250 adolescents aged 10–14 years from Belgium, China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, and Indonesia, as part of the Global Early Adolescent Study. We examined the percentage of pornography use by sex and site and conducted multivariate logistic regressions to examine the relation between gender norm perceptions and pornography use, adjusting for individual, family, peer, and media exposures. ResultsEver-use of pornography ranged from 14.5% in Ecuador to 33.0% in Belgium and was more common among boys than girls. Overall, boys who perceived greater permissiveness about romantic relations, adolescents who engaged in such relations, and adolescents who assumed that their friends were sexually active had greater pornography exposure. Pornography use did not systematically correlate with unequal gender norms. Such correlations only exist among boys in two Asian sites, where a supportive school environment, more caregiver awareness, and/or neighborhood cohesion were related to less pornography use. ConclusionsPornography use is a gendered experience that begins in early adolescence. Although factors of pornography use vary across the social context, the exposure to pornography has become a normative part of adolescent sexuality development. Young people, especially those from where sexuality remains taboo, need the ability to critically process information and avoid potential risks associated with pornographic gendered and sexual stereotypes, calling for comprehensive sexuality education programs to help them build the knowledge and confidence they need.

Social and Behavioral Correlates of Adolescent Sexual Experience and Intention to Use Condoms in Northwestern Botswana.

Adolescent sexual behavior is shaped by individual, social, and structural factors that can increase HIV-risk, unwanted pregnancy, and sexually transmitted disease. To inform the development of a comprehensive sexuality education program, 239 secondary school adolescents ages 14–19 in Maun, Botswana, completed a survey of sexual and reproductive health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors in February–March 2020. Bivariate and multivariate analyses examined factors associated with sexual experience and perceived ability to insist on condoms. Approximately 21% of respondents reported having had sexual intercourse. More than half felt able to insist on condoms. Sources of information about human reproduction, alcohol use, attitudes about when sex is acceptable, and perceived sexual activity by one’s peers were predictive of sexual experience. Age, confidence in correct condom use, perceived acceptability of adolescent sex with condoms, and endorsement of prevailing gender norms were significantly associated with perceived ability to insist on condom use.

Initiatives in primary school for the inclusion of a gender perspective

Abstract This reflective piece seeks to show how teachers of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in primary schools can include a gender perspective as a tool to promote and develop social transformation and reflection when integrating Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in their lessons using different literary materials. The development of a gender perspective involves a critical examination of power and unequal relations between sexed bodies. In the case of Argentina, the passing of Law 26,150 created a National CSE Program, which enforces the teaching of a responsible sexuality education from a gender and human rights perspective. This article describes some of the literary materials and initiatives that we, two EFL primary level teachers, have designed and implemented for the development of such perspective in our lessons following a critical and dialogical pedagogy. We hope these initiatives can help other EFL teachers carry out similar practices according to their contexts.

Gender Differences in Attitudes and Behaviors Toward Condoms and Birth Control Among Chicago Adolescents

Research shows that gender norms play a notable role in pregnancy prevention, often placing responsibility on females and allowing some males to pursue sexual encounters without considering the consequences of unprotected sex. This paper examines gender differences in attitudes and behaviors related to condom use and birth control among adolescents using survey, focus group, and interview data gathered from the evaluation of Chicago Healthy Adolescents and Teens (CHAT), a comprehensive sexual health education program implemented with adolescents in Chicago Public High Schools. Results indicate that safe sex attitudes and behaviors differ between male and female adolescents, specifically those related to condoms and birth control. Our findings suggest that (i) females have higher knowledge and presumed responsibility for pregnancy prevention, (ii) infrequent condom use among adolescents prioritizes male pleasure over female health needs, and (iii) social norms discourage females, but not males, from accessing and using birth control. We use the Theory of Gender and Power to show how our findings reflect gender dynamics within the United States and explain the potential health implications for adolescent sexual health.

Effectiveness of Sex Education in Adolescents

Adolescence is the time during which the personal and sexual identity develops. The specific characteristics of adolescents and the lack of maturity facilitates the acquisition of sexual risk behaviors such as relaxation in the use of barrier contraceptives or the use of toxic substances, alcohol or drugs during sexual relations, increasing of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unwanted pregnancies. Health education in sexuality is one of the best ways to prevent risk behaviors and to promote healthy and responsible sexuality. While there have been different works in sex education in adolescents, there is still a lack of a comprehensive systematic literature review that including randomized and non-randomized clinical trials and quasi-experimental pre-post studies addressing education programs that provide information on healthy and responsible sexuality. Further, it is noted that a protocol drafted in consideration of the existing approaches is needed to present a basis for a systematic literature review in this area. This article, therefore, proposes a review protocol that will evaluate the impact of comprehensive sex education programs in the level of knowledge about STIs, behavioral level concerning the frequency of use of effective contraceptive methods and level of knowledge about sexual identity, diversity and/or responsible sexuality, after the intervention.

Transcripts of Unfulfillment: A Study of Sexual Dysfunction and Dissatisfaction among Malay-Muslim Women in Malaysia

The prevalence of female sexual dysfunction (FSD), or in everyday notion, sexual dissatisfaction, among Malay women remains high, denoting that there are several influences shaping their experience of sex within marriage. This qualitative study identified the perceived effects of social factors in the development of sexual dysfunction among Malay women. Engaging a phenomenological framework, 26 in-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted among married women from Peninsular Malaysia, based on their self-reporting of FSD symptoms. All sessions were audio-recorded and the data were transcribed verbatim and managed in the ATLAS.ti software before being analysed. The three themes that emerged—‘sex is taboo and culturally unacceptable’, ‘self-ignorance about sex’, and ‘lack of husband’s role in mutual sexual enjoyment’—suggest some influence of Islamic teachings and cultural conduct, as in Adat, on sexuality in society. However, a lack of knowledge and nonadherence to positive values and teachings around sexual satisfaction between men and women, as espoused through the Islamic religion, have affected woman’s sexual functions and coupling relationship even more significantly. The results of this qualitative study show that a formal, culturally sensitive, and comprehensive sex education programme incorporating both medical and Islamic knowledge may work to effectively reduce FSD.

Local realities or international imposition? Intersecting sexuality education needs of Ghanaian adolescents with international norms

ABSTRACT The content of comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) programmes is contested in many parts of the world, yet we know less about what primary beneficiaries (learners) consider as (in) appropriate school curriculum. I examined this phenomenon in Ghana. Data generated from focus group discussions suggests that, overall, participants used positive phrases to describe the need for sexuality education. The prevalent and recurrent needs of adolescents centred around personal reproductive health hygiene, pregnancy prevention, healthy relationships, reproductive infections and control, reproductive physiology and maturation, gender differences and sexual orientations, and sexual pleasure and pain. However, these needs varied in some ways between males and females and between early adolescents and older adolescents. The study shows that what adolescents seek to learn fall within international norms/standards on CSE. However, some of these concepts were not covered in the guidelines proposed for Ghana. The prevalent view among many opponents that CSE is not driven by local need may not be consistent with adolescents’ own aspirations and realities. The voices of children and adolescents should constitute part of the discussions on the form and content of sexuality education.