Sex Education Programs Research Articles

Sexual Health Literacy Level and Associated Sociodemographic Factors among Sri Lankan Adolescents: A Cross-sectional Analysis of Selected Urban and Rural Areas in Kandy District

Abstract Introduction: This study addresses a gap in the existing literature by investigating the sexual health literacy (SHL) of adolescents in the Kandy district of Sri Lanka. Methods: This was conducted in 2022 as a cross-sectional analysis study, it involved 1690 students aged 14–18 using multistage cluster sampling. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire on SHL, and scores were calculated based on the HLS-EU Sinhala version. Results: Of 1675 adolescents, 49.6% lived in rural areas and 50.4% lived in urban areas. 52.5% were females and 47.5% were males. 14–16 years old were 59.8% and 17%–18% were 40.2%. The mean age was 14.0 years (standard deviation = 0.49). Regarding socioeconomic status, 46.4% (n = 777) were in the upper and lower quintiles. The results revealed that 47.4% of the total respondents exhibited limited SHL. Rural youth have significantly higher levels of limited SHL compared to their urban counterparts. The factors associated with SHL were identified through logistic regression as an urban residence (odds ratio [OR] = 0.61) and older age (17–18) (OR = 0.65) was negatively associated with limited SHL. Conclusion: These findings underscore the need for targeted and comprehensive sexuality education programs tailored to the specific needs of rural adolescents in Sri Lanka.

Knowledge and Attitude towards Contraceptive Use among Female University Students in a Higher Institution in Northern Mindanao, Philippines

Background: The rate of unwanted pregnancies among university students is increasing each year, despite extensive public awareness of and access to contraceptives. The study is centered on women since, historically, when it comes to contraception, women have borne a disproportionate share of the burden, and if birth control fails to work, their bodies will be the ones to bear the consequences. Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the knowledge and attitude of female undergraduate students of a higher institution in Northern Mindanao, Philippines, towards contraceptive use. The results of the study may be utilized as a guide to formulate effective health education strategies for university health nurses for this vulnerable population. Methods: A quantitative correlational design was used in this study, which utilized Google Forms to collect data from four hundred fourteen (414) respondents selected through purposive sampling at a higher education institution. The researchers utilized a researcher-made questionnaire to assess general awareness, knowledge, and attitude toward contraceptive use. Results: The study revealed that most of the respondents are generally aware of the proper usage of contraceptives, highly knowledgeable, and have a positive attitude towards contraceptive use. Most of the respondents obtained this knowledge from media sources. Apart from the relationship status, other demographic factors have no significant correlation with the knowledge and attitude towards contraception of the respondents. Notably, results show that there is a significant relationship between knowledge and attitude towards contraceptive use among undergraduate female students. Conclusion: The research indicates that a knowledge-rich community can have an impact on attitudes toward contraceptive use. The researchers recommend extensive and comprehensive sexual education programs in academic institutions to address this reproductive health concern among university students.

Human Rights Implications Of Minimum Age For Criminal Liability Laws In Sexual Offenses: A Case Study Of India

The abuse of children sexually is a terrible worldwide problem that leaves victims with lifelong scars. In order to ensure justice and deter similar acts, legislative frameworks are essential. Balancing this objective with the evolving rights and autonomy of teenagers poses a significant challenge. With an emphasis on India's Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, this study examines the human rights consequences of minimum age requirements for criminal liability laws pertaining to sexual offences. POCSO establishes 18 as the minimum age of consent for all sexual activities, which has raised concerns about the possible infringement of teenage rights, such as the freedom from unjustified arrest and imprisonment, privacy, bodily autonomy, and access to knowledge about sexual and reproductive health. The conflict between teenage rights and child protection is examined in the paper. This study examines how teenagers' ability to give consent is developing, as well as how criminalising any sexual behaviour under the age of 18 may violate their right to autonomy. International comparisons show how different countries handle this complicated topic and how their minimum age regulations vary. A human rights-based strategy for POCSO reform is put out in this study. In order to distinguish between consensual sexual behaviour between adolescents of similar ages and exploitative abuse, this study involves investigating the possibility of a tiered age of consent system. Furthermore, it is suggested to prioritise preventive interventions through detailed sexual education programmes for setting explicit rules for assessing capacity to consent. The necessity of open communication, stakeholder participation, and ongoing legislative revision is emphasised in the conclusion of the paper. India may develop a more effective framework for preventing child sexual abuse while defending the rights and welfare of all young people by giving human rights a higher priority.

Implementing Early Sexual Education as a Preventive Measure against Sexual Harassment in Children

Educational Institutions must address the rising incidence of sexual harassment against children by systematic prevention measures, such as the early introduction of sexual education. Conducting this research is crucial in order to ascertain the extent to which early childhood education institutions are implementing sexual education at a young age in accordance with children's developmental stages and in a consistent effort to prevent sexual harassment against children. The research employed a qualitative descriptive technique, conducted between July and September 2023. The subject of this study is the classroom teacher, while the informants are the curriculum teacher, the health-responsible teacher, and the school principal of BA Aisiyah Cawas. The methods employed for data collection encompassed observation, interviews, and documentation. To verify the validity of the research data, the researchers used the techniques of method triangulation and source triangulation. Meanwhile, data analysis methods include condensation, presentation, and conclusion drawing. The findings of this study indicate that Early Childhood Education Institutions can effectively reduce sexual harassment by adopting comprehensive sexual education programs that specifically target early-stage sexual education. The implemented measures encompass acquainting children with anatomical structures and their respective functions, instructing children on independent genital hygiene (toilet training), educating children on permissible and impermissible contact with body parts, segregating sleeping arrangements by gender, exemplifying healthy interpersonal relationships, fostering adherence to hygienic practices, and imparting knowledge on safeguarding oneself against sexual harassment. Keywords: Prevention strategies, sexual harassment, sexual education & children.

Factors Influencing Risky Sexual Behavior: A Study of Female Undergraduate Students of University of Lagos, Akoka, Nigeria

Background Out of 1.9 million people living with HIV in 2018, about 1.5% were within age 15 - 49 years although efforts have been made to limit the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country but it still retains an upward trajectory in certain states due to engagement of youths in risky sexual behaviours Thus, this study examined factors influencing risky sexual behaviors among female Undergraduate Students of University of Lagos, Akoka, Nigeria. Methods A quantitative methodological approach was adopted for this study. The study location was the University of Lagos in Nigeria. A total number of 400 sample sizes was considered for this study. The multi-stage sampling technique was applied. The questionnaire was used in the process of gathering data for this study. Frequency count and percentage, including valid percentage and cumulative percentage, were used. Results The findings of the study showed that a significant majority of respondents 367 respondents, (91.7%) have had sexual intercourse. Peer influence played a role in the first sexual activity for the majority of respondents, with 288 respondents (78.5%) indicating that their first sexual experience was influenced by their peers. The study also revealed that (62.2%) of respondents reported engaging in unprotected mouth-to-genital contact. Conclusions Notably, peer influence emerged as a crucial component of the first sexual encounters, demonstrating the influence of their peers on their choices. Recommendations such as government implementing comprehensive sex education programs that emphasize healthy relationships were made in tandem with the findings of this study

“Instead of Asking for Fare, You Ask Her to Pay with Sex”: Male Perspectives on the Factors Influencing Schoolgirls’ Participation in Age-Disparate Transactional Sex Relationships

Age-disparate transactional sex relationships are often coerced and exploitative. The gender and economic disparities between affluent men and economically disadvantaged girls often perpetuate these relationships, resulting in their exploitation. This qualitative study assessed men’s understanding of factors influencing schoolgirls’ engagement in age-disparate transactional sex relationships in two rural districts in Kenya. Four focus group sessions were conducted with men from two primary professions: motorcycle taxi operators (Boda Boda) and teachers from primary and secondary schools from two districts in Kitui South, Sub County, Kenya. Focus group data were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Several influential factors associated with schoolgirls’ engagement in these transactional relationships are discussed in three broad themes: access and coercion, parental influence, and peer-related factors. Study results indicate that schoolgirls in rural areas are more susceptible to predation by men willing to trade sexual favors with underage girls. These findings make it imperative to address the predation of adolescent girls by men involved in these transactional relationships by implementing comprehensive sex education programs that empower schoolgirls to recognize and resist coercion. Additionally, implementing measures involving community leaders, parents, and other stakeholders in a collective effort to combat the exploitation of underage girls is paramount. These measures should be accompanied by the stricter enforcement of laws and regulations to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.

Exploring Perceptions and Experiences of Comprehensive Sex Education Among Adolescents

This study used a quantitative research technique to investigate teenagers' perspectives and experiences with Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE) programs. The study included replies from 450 teenagers aged 14 to 18, from various socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Adolescents valued the thorough covering of themes (mean = 4.56) and found the content relevant (mean = 4.72), highlighting good evaluations of CSE content and delivery. The study demonstrated the necessity of engaging teaching approaches (mean = 4.38) and provided light on the need for frank talks regarding sexual health (mean = 4.24). While participants reported feeling comfortable discussing sexual health (84.4%) and believing CSE enhanced their understanding (93.3%), the reported percentage of consistent contraceptive usage (40.0%) was lower, demonstrating the difficulty in transferring knowledge into conduct. These findings are consistent with past studies, highlighting the persistent challenge to overcome the knowledge-behavior divide. The study's conclusions call for CSE programs to include practical skill-building components as well as to foster inclusive spaces that encourage open discourse about sexual health. This study contributes to the conversation around adolescent sexual health education by stressing the need of participant-centered, holistic approaches that allow teenagers to make educated decisions about their sexual well-being.

Expansion of Comprehensive Sexuality Education

School-based sex education has always been and continues to be controversial and mired in politics, and gaps persist in the content and skills that children and adolescents receive about sexual health. State policies dictate whether sex and HIV education are mandated, medically accurate, or include life skills such as providing consent to sexual activity, and these policies have important implications for population health. In this column, I review research findings about abstinence only versus sex education or comprehensive sexuality education, identify gaps in research and content related to sex education programs, review state sex education policies, and provide recommendations from professional organizations on expanding school-based programming to include comprehensive sexuality education.

Effectiveness of a Comprehensive School-Based Sex Education Program for Young Adolescents in the Netherlands.

Most sexual education programs traditionally focused on providing sexual information regarding the risks of sex. However, current studies on sexual behavior in youth show a need for truly comprehensive sex education approaches with a sex-positive focus on sexuality, that effectively improve sexual competence. Therefore, in the current study the effectiveness of "Love is…", a four lesson school-based program based on the Sexual Interactional Competence model and Attitude-Social-Influence-Self-Efficacy-model was studied. A cluster-randomized controlled trial on the effectiveness of "Love is…" was conducted in 2018-2020. The sample consisted of 1160 adolescents in grades 8 and 9 from nine schools in the Netherlands. The sample was 48% female, 34% Dutch/Caucasian, 41% none-religious and 50% higher educated. They were randomized at class level into a program group [n = 32 classes; 567 students (Mage = 13.74 (SD = 0.74))] and a control group [n = 31 classes; 593 students (Mage = 13.86 (SD = 0.73))]. Results showed that "Love is…" increased sexual knowledge, that adolescents in the program group showed less cyber victim blaming attitudes and increased in communications skills after the program. In conclusion, the current study shows that "Love is…" was effective not only on the knowledge level, but also regarding sexual attitudes and competences. However, due to the developmental process of sexuality, there is a necessity to continue lessons in following grades through booster sessions by reinforcing competences as communicating comfortably about sexuality.On 12 November 2019 the study design and hypotheses were registered in the Dutch Trial Registration, number NL8150. ( https://onderzoekmetmensen.nl/nl/trial/26676 ).

A comprehensive interventional program based on the needs and concerns related to female genital cosmetic surgeries: protocol for a multistage mixed methods study

BackgroundDissatisfaction with one's body and the subsequent rise in the cosmetic surgery trend pose significant public health concerns today. One unusual cosmetic surgical procedure involves enhancing the genital area. Numerous healthy women and girls have recently sought Genital Cosmetic Surgery (GCS) for beauty or improved sexual performance. There is a concern that this phenomenon may be linked to developing a new standard for vulvovaginal appearance. This stringent standard could potentially adversely affect women's mental health in the future, growing feelings of insecurity and possibly leading teenagers to consider plastic surgery.Implementing empowering and awareness-raising programs for women and girls is crucial, especially in light of the constantly evolving gender norms and the medicalization of sexuality and beauty as social constructs. It is essential that such training is integrated into comprehensive sexual education programs for adolescents. These efforts align perfectly with the SDG, recognizing that education in sexual and reproductive health, ensuring access to health, and empowering women are fundamental rights for women and girls. To accomplish these objectives, we will conduct this study to elucidate the needs and concerns related to the increasing trend of GCS. By doing so, we can concentrate on the factors motivating women to undergo GCS. This approach will enable us to develop effective interventions to empower women and girls considering GCS, thus enhancing their sexual and reproductive health.Methods and objectivesThe objectives of this multistage exploratory sequential mixed-method study will be structured into three phases:First phase: qualitative study.In-depth interviews will be conducted to elucidate the needs and concerns associated with GCS with women with a history of GCS, spouses of willing participants, and women actively seeking these procedures.A literature review in parallel with the qualitative phase will be conducted to gain insights into the needs and concerns of women worldwide considering GCS.Second phase: program design.To formulate an intervention grounded in the primary priorities identified during the qualitative stage and informed by the literature review.To prioritize the needs and concerns of women seeking GCS and to validate and endorse the intervention through input from an expert panel.Third phase: quantitative study.To assess and determine the effectiveness of the intervention designed to address the needs and concerns of women applying for GCS procedures.DiscussionThis study marks the first attempt to design and assess an intervention addressing the needs and concerns of cosmetic surgeries performed on the female genital and reproductive system. The hope is that this study's compilation and implementation will yield substantial evidence and documentation regarding the impact of educational interventions on women's and girls' sexual and reproductive empowerment. Given the rising prevalence of GCS among unmarried teenagers, this approach is of utmost significance. It underscores the necessity for gynecological and midwifery service providers to have comprehensive guidance on GCS. Such guidance can be an essential resource for healthcare providers in this field.

Fostering the wellbeing of adolescent girls through an out-of-school sexuality education programme in Ghana

ABSTRACT Ghanaian adolescents face considerable sexual and reproductive health challenges that can disrupt human capital formation. However, a positive and healthy transition from adolescence to adulthood can be achieved by increasing access to sexual and reproductive health information, education, and services. This paper documents emerging findings from an adolescent girls’ programme delivered in 56 districts of Ghana. Data were collected from girls and young women aged 10–24 years who participated in the programme as part of a larger study that included in-school and out-of-school participants. In-depth interviews (IDI) [N = 49] and focus-group discussions (FGDs) [N = 13] were conducted in November 2021 and November 2022. An abductive approach was used to develop key themes from the data. The analysis revealed that the programme showed promise in changing the attitudes of beneficiaries towards safe sexual practices through condom use, in increasing assertiveness towards sexual and gender-based violence, and in real-life application of the knowledge and skills gained for health and social wellbeing. Out-of-school sexuality education programmes such as the one described here can be important catalysts for developing and maintaining meaningful relationships with others through the provision of information and education, and service delivery.

Evaluating a sexual and reproductive health education program in Mozambique: A mixed method study

Background: Early and inappropriate messages regarding sexuality and marriage taught during adolescent initiation rituals teachings in Mozambique are considered a determinant of high rates of early marriage, adolescent pregnancy, and maternal mortality. The Alert Community for a Prepared Hospital implementation research project in Natikiri, Nampula, Mozambique (2016-2020) identified adolescent initiation rituals counsellors and traditional authorities as pertinent agents to provide sexual and reproductive health education to adolescents during the initiation rituals. Objective: Develop, apply, evaluate, and disseminate a modern, transformative education tool, about sexual and reproductive health and rights, for counselors to use with adolescents during initiation rituals in Northern Mozambique. Methods: This is an exploratory descriptive and intervention study, using mixed method approaches. Findings: Results suggest, the education tool was well accepted by rituals counsellors, community leaders and the adolescents who attended the initiation rituals. It was shown to improve adolescent’s knowledge and lead to a positive behaviour change in sexual and reproductive health and rights. Conclusions: This intervention may be replicated at a national level with a low cost and significantly contribute to reducing adolescent pregnancy and early marriages and improving maternal and child health.

CONTRACEPTION KNOWLEDGE AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN PORT HARCOURT METROPOLIS RIVERS STATE NIGERIA

This study investigates the factors associated with the knowledge of contraception among secondary school students in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Nigeria. A descriptive survey research design was employed, involving 900 students from both public and private secondary schools. A validated self-structured instrument with a reliability index of 0.76 was used for data collection. The study found that 76.1% of the respondents exhibited good knowledge of contraception, with 23.9% demonstrating poor knowledge. Disastrously, 80.3% of the students opinioned that contraceptives help prevent sexually transmitted diseases, and 63.7% understood their role in preventing unwanted pregnancies. However, misconceptions persisted, with 16.7% believing that other contraceptives prevent only pregnancy and 59.3% thinking that daily oral pills must be taken daily for effectiveness. Chi-square analysis revealed significant associations between knowledge of contraception and various factors. Age was found to be significant (χ² = 13.633, p = 0.008), with students aged 15-16 years exhibiting better knowledge. Gender was also significant (χ² = 5.705, p = 0.033), as female students had a higher level of understanding. Religion (χ² = 23.564, p = 0.002) and guardian (χ² = 20.432, p = 0.001) both significantly influenced knowledge, with Christian students and those guided by parents demonstrating better knowledge. Based on the findings, it was recommended that government in collaboration with health promotion experts, health educators and school administrators should design, develop and implement a targeted educational interventions to address misconceptions and disparities in knowledge; comprehensive sexual education programs should be implemented, tailored to students' diverse backgrounds, and designed to promote gender equity. KEYWORDS: contraception, Knowledge, students, associated factors, secondary Schools.

Factors associated with the choice of having multiple sexual partners among male college students with casual heterosexual sex in Zhejiang Province, Eastern China

BackgroundYoung students infected with HIV have become a significant public health issue in China, this study aimed to understand the factors influencing the choice of having multiple sexual partners among male college students who had casual heterosexual sex in Zhejiang Province and to scientifically justify developing HIV/AIDS intervention strategies among them.MethodsA stratified cluster sampling method was used for the survey of students from 13 colleges or universities in Zhejiang Province between October and November 2018. The questionnaire collected information on general demographic characteristics, knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, sexual attitudes and risk awareness, sexual behavioural characteristics, and acceptance of interventions. The univariable and multivariable analyses were conducted in this study.ResultsStudy participants included 362 male college students who exhibited casual heterosexual sex and were aware of the number of sexual partners they had. Among them, 222 students engaged in casual heterosexual sex with multiple sexual partners (61.33%). The results of the multivariable analysis revealed several factors associated with male students’ choice to have multiple sexual partners: monthly living expenses greater than or equal to 1501 CNY (adjusted OR = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.21–4.16), sexual behavior after consuming alcohol (adjusted OR = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.32–3.63), whose casual partner types were non-student (adjusted OR = 2.51, 95% CI = 1.45–4.22), and those who discussed using condoms during sexual intercourse (adjusted OR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.28–0.89).ConclusionThe choice to engage in casual heterosexual sex with multiple partners was found to be associated with several factors among male college students, including economic status, engaging in sexual behavior after consuming alcohol, the type of the casual partner, and using condoms. These findings highlight the significance of implementing targeted interventions and comprehensive sexual health education programs within college settings in order to encourage safer sexual practices among students.

The Values in Perspective Comprehensive Sex Education Program: Experiences of Black Youth

Limited research is available on the acceptability of comprehensive sex education for economically marginalized Black youth. The current evaluation study collected quantitative self-report data from 109 high-school-aged predominately Black or African American economically marginalized youth after completing a comprehensive sex education program. Youth reported positive experiences with the program, improvement in socioemotional skill development, and increases in sexual risk avoidance behavior. Youth report of quality of experience predicted youth sexual risk avoidance. These findings serve as evidence for tailoring comprehensive sex education programs to youth demographic variables.

Young Women’s Attitudes and Concerns Regarding Pornography and Their Sexual Experiences: A Qualitative Approach

This study explores female university students’ attitudes toward and concerns about pornography, based on their experience watching it and on sexual encounters with men. It used a qualitative descriptive design. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 participants between March and April 2020. Thematic data analysis was performed using COREQ reporting guidelines. Three themes emerged from the data: (1) the sexual learning process, (2) the role of pornography in women’s sexuality, and (3) sexual experiences. Participants reported how they learned about sexuality and how pornography influenced sexual experiences. Self-esteem issues and societal norms regarding hair removal and difficulty saying “no” to unwanted or humiliating sexual practices were found. The young women were not comfortable with women’s representations in mainstream pornography. They blamed pornography for negative sexual experiences and claimed it influenced them and young men. Participants usually assumed submissive roles during sex and permitted aggressive sexual behaviors. The study reveals valuable information on how young women learn about sex and their difficulty in refusing unwanted sexual activities and even aggressive practices. Sexual education programs should include assertiveness training to improve sexual health, consent, and well-being.

Live-streaming comprehensive sexuality education in Western China: an analysis of the views of implementers and junior secondary students

ABSTRACT Following China’s rapid socioeconomic transition, the sexual attitudes and behaviours of Chinese youth have changed considerably, raising serious concerns about their sexual and reproductive health (SRH). While comprehensive and high-quality formal sexuality education has been shown to lead to safer sexual behaviour, the delivery of formal SRH education in China remains insufficient, especially in Western regions. This study usedd qualitative approaches to evaluate the implementation of a live-streaming comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) programme in Western China between 2019 and 2021, Nineteen participants were recruited to participate in this study. Ten face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted privately with specialists, school principals, and live-streaming tutors. Two focus groups were conducted with classroom teachers and junior secondary students, respectively. Findings reveal that both programme implementers and students demonstrated high satisfaction with CSE implementation. They indicated that CSE provision helped enhance adolescents’ SRH knowledge and attitudes so as to better prepare them for a healthy and secure future. Findings demonstrate the effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, sustainability, and scale-up possibilities of the both the CSE curriculum and the live-streaming delivery approach. Findings may help guide future implementation of CSE at all levels, and thus improve access to CSE for vulnerable populations and diminish SRH disparities more effectively.

6.O. Workshop: Overview of Comprehensive Sexuality Education Status in Moldova, Georgia, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan

Abstract Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is a key dimension of overall health and wellbeing of individuals. Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) is one of the most important means of promoting and supporting youth is their sexual and overall development, and a key component of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) prevention. It is widely recognised that school plays a central role in learning about health and health promotion skills, including sexuality and sexual health. Nevertheless, there is often a lack of evaluation of CSE implementation in school curriculums. This is why UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) and BZgA (Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung), in cooperation with UNESCO((United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), WHO (World Health Organization) and IPPF EN (International Planned Parenthood Federation), conducted a study in Moldova, Georgia, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to assess the status of CSE. In this workshop, we will describe the study process, reflect on the main findings in four countries and discuss two case studies of Moldova and Georgia. The speakers will also share their experiences of translating these findings into advocacy measures and achievements since the study conducted in 2022. The data was collected using the standardized Sexuality Education Review and Assessment Tool (SERAT) via desk reviews of relevant policies, curricula and national data, questionnaires, stakeholder interviews (e.g., with teachers, representatives of technical working groups and ministries of education, young people) and discussions to validate the findings. Overall, we have seen that all four countries teach sexuality education, which is supported by adequate legal and policy frameworks, and integrate it into their school curricula. The comprehensiveness of the curriculum, teacher training and learning methods differ across the four countries. In Georgia, the biggest CSE-related challenge is that there is a stigma in society around sexuality-related issues and there is a need to support an open dialog with key stakeholders. In Moldova, this was the second SERAT assessment within 5 years, which demonstrated a significant progress in the development of sexuality education program since 2017, achieving a much higher score of compliance with the international standards for CSE. Key messages • This study shows that the four countries assessed are on a positive track in implementing and expanding their sexuality education programmes, which are supported by a legal and policy environment. • Gaps still remain in teacher training, monitoring and evaluation, and the comprehensiveness of the delivered content.

Situational context of home-based sexual education in urban slums of Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract Background Little is known about how events in slum settings interfere with informal sexual education in Nigeria. This study explores the influence of situational context on parent-adolescent communication about sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues in the urban slums of Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods A qualitative exploratory study was conducted in the Southeast and Northeast local government areas of Ibadan. Eight (8) vignette-based focus group discussions (FGDs) with parents and adolescents of both sexes were conducted in addition to four (4) key informant interviews (KIIs) with community and women's leaders. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and translated into English. Descriptive and interpretative analyses were conducted with the aid of ATLAS Ti 9 software. Results Findings portray SRH meanings and experiences, intergenerational cultural norms, and expectations for SRH, gender double standards in SRH discussion, streetwise SRH knowledge, and social media exposure to SRH as contexts that interfere with parent-adolescent communication on SRH issues. The findings show that although parents and teenagers understood SRH issues and their consequences, there was no effective communication about them. Also, the conversation between parents and adolescents promotes gender inequalities as different SRH information is passed to adolescent girls and boys. Streetwise SRH knowledge was identified to impede effective parent-adolescent conversation on SRH issues. Social media exposure had a significant impact on where teenagers got their unfiltered SRH knowledge, interfering with and distorting SRH discussion between parents and adolescents. Conclusions Interventions that enable parents to give and allow their children early access to appropriate SRH knowledge, considering their context, are urgently needed. Key messages • The study emphasizes the need for tailored sexual education programs that are culturally sensitive, age-appropriate, and accessible to parents and children in urban slums. • The study highlights the absence of formal sexual education in schools and communities in urban slums of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Comparison of progress in CSE in Moldova measured by SERAT - from 2017 to 2022

Abstract In recent years in the Republic of Moldova, many actions have been carried out to develop health education programmes that integrate sexuality education, in both the compulsory and optional school curricula. Sexuality education is not a stand alone subject and was integrated mainly in two mandatory courses Biology and Personal Development. To assess the quality of school-based sexuality education in the country, UNFPA in the Republic of Moldova in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Research (MER), under a regional initiative supported by the UNFPA Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regional Office and the BZgA, conducted in 2021-2022 a national assessment of the compulsory curriculum by applying SERAT. To observe the progress over the last years, a comparative analysis was performed with the results from SERAT analysis conducted in Moldova in 2017. Overall, the results of the current assessment demonstrate a significant progress in the development of sexuality education programs since 2017, achieving a much higher score of compliance with the international standards for CSE in 2021/2022 - 54 per cent average score for all components compared to 34 per cent in 2017. The government is committed to increase the level of sexuality education integration in schools, as the legal framework provides strong support for the right to sexuality education for adolescents and youth.