The CDC 's Division of Adolescent and School Health Approach to Sexual Health Education in Schools: 3 Decades in Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leigh E. Szucs ◽  
Lisa C. Barrios ◽  
Emily Young ◽  
Leah Robin ◽  
Pete Hunt ◽  
...  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather B. Clayton ◽  
Nancy D. Brener ◽  
Lisa C. Barrios ◽  
Paula E. Jayne ◽  
Sherry Everett Jones

Background. Sexual health education plays a vital role in preventing adverse consequences of sexual behavior. Data are limited on how professional development (PD) for teachers is associated with teaching sexual health content. Method. We used data from the 2014 School Health Policies and Practices Study, a cross-sectional survey that included a nationally representative sample of middle and high school health education courses ( n = 328; 96.2% of those sampled). We examined whether teacher characteristics and receipt of PD on four sexual health domains (human sexuality and the prevention of pregnancy, HIV, and sexually transmitted diseases) were associated with teaching those four domains and whether PD was associated with teaching specific topics within each domain. In a second set of analyses, we compared the difference in coverage of specific topics by receipt of PD among only the teachers who reported teaching the domain. Results. The prevalence of teaching sexual health content was higher among courses in which teachers had a degree in health education or were certified to teach health education. A robust relationship between teachers’ receipt of PD and the teaching of nearly all sexual health topics as well as an increase in the mean number of topics taught and the time devoted to the domain was demonstrated. Conclusions. PD has a positive impact on the coverage of sexual health topics among middle and high school courses. These data suggest a need for more PD on sexual health education content to ensure that sexual health topics are taught in the classroom.


2020 ◽  
Vol 92 ◽  
pp. 103045
Author(s):  
Leigh E. Szucs ◽  
Catherine N. Rasberry ◽  
Paula E. Jayne ◽  
India D. Rose ◽  
Lorin Boyce ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Ľuboslava Pavelová ◽  
Alexandra Archalousová ◽  
Zuzana Slezáková ◽  
Dana Zrubcová ◽  
Andrea Solgajová ◽  
...  

Background: Developmentally appropriate evidence-based sexual health education should be included as part of a comprehensive school health education program and be accessible to all students. The registered school nurse is a valuable resource to parents and educators in this area and supports the implementation of evidence-based sexual health education programs that promote healthy sexual development for adolescents. Methods: The research group consisted of 438 adolescents aged 12 to 15 years in a selected region in Slovakia, 186 boys and 252 girls. Average age of the girls was 13.2 and the boys 13.3 years. A nurse—a specialist in community nursing—collected the data using a self-designed questionnaire. The questions evaluated by the five-point Likert scale focused on finding out the knowledge and attitudes of adolescents to the role of school nurses regarding sexuality and reproductive health. Results were analyzed using parametric comparison tests with significance value 0.05: Student t-test for independent samples. Results: The girls and the boys most often drew information on sexuality and reproductive health from their parents and friends. The evaluation of the adolescents’ views on who should be a competent professional in the field of sexual education at schools found statistically significant differences between the boys and girls. For the boys and girls, a sexologist received the most significant assessment of competence. The interest in a school nurse in a school environment would be statistically significantly more appreciated by the girls compared to the boys, not just for solving problems related to healthy lifestyle, but also regarding sexuality, parenting and marriage. The adolescents consider the education for marriage and parenthood as the least discussed issue at present. In evaluating topics the adolescents would discuss, there were statistically significant differences between the boys and girls. Conclusions: A community or school nurse would also be able to successfully perform sexual education at schools. In Slovakia, this applied nursing discipline is lacking.


2021 ◽  
pp. 001789692110296
Author(s):  
Carol A Cummings ◽  
Christine M Fisher ◽  
Rosemary Reilly-Chammat

Objective: To explore teachers’ beliefs, experiences and barriers influencing teaching related to sexual health education. Methods, Design and Setting: Descriptive, cross-sectional study design. Rhode Island certified health teachers ( n = 190) completed an online sexual health education survey. Teacher perceptions about the need and benefits of teaching this subject, coverage of essential topics, their experiences and the barriers they faced were gathered. Qualitative questions were analysed using open, axial and selective coding. Constant comparative approach was used to identify themes. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse quantitative items. Results: Findings indicated that 98% of teachers felt that sexual health education should be taught. Less than 50% agreed that coverage for topics identified in the national sexuality education standards for grades K-12 should begin at each grade level. Two common themes – prevention and access to accurate information – emerged as reasons for teaching the subject. Themes generated from teacher experiences revealed the use of a risk reduction approach to sexual health education. Healthy sexual development, gender identity, inclusive education and all components of a comprehensive approach were not identified. Perceived barriers to teaching included teacher comfort, time, parents’ likely responses and lack of training. Conclusion: Findings signal the need for ongoing professional development to broaden teachers’ understanding of comprehensive sex education and address the beliefs and barriers that hinder inclusive and comprehensive teaching approaches. Good quality training in which teachers reflect on their beliefs and develop proficiency in the use of effective pedagogies can strengthen educator capacity and self-efficacy.


2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Criniti ◽  
M. Andelloux ◽  
M. B. Woodland ◽  
O. C. Montgomery ◽  
S. Urdaneta Hartmann

2021 ◽  
pp. 105984052098753
Author(s):  
Sung Hae Kim ◽  
Yoona Choi

Although the rate of sexual intercourse among adolescents has increased in Asian countries, including Korea, many sexually active adolescents still do not use contraception. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for contraceptive nonuse among adolescents using decision tree analysis of the 2018 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey data from 2,460 high school students who had an experience of sexual intercourse. The findings indicated that the highest risk group who did not use contraception during sexual intercourse did not receive sexual health education in school and was involved in habitual or purposeful drug use. The experience of ever receiving treatment due to violence and the experience of sexual intercourse after drinking were also identified as risk factors for contraceptive nonuse. To encourage contraceptive use, development of standard sexual health education, counseling, and educational intervention intended to prevent risky behaviors is needed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 91 (11) ◽  
pp. 928-935
Author(s):  
Martha J. Decker ◽  
Shebani Dandekar ◽  
Abigail Gutmann‐Gonzalez ◽  
Claire D. Brindis

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 92-95
Author(s):  
Melek Anday Rifat qızı Tolunay ◽  

The general purpose of planned sexual health education for children and young people is to provide them with sufficient information about sexual health according to their age range, to inform them about attitude-value and understanding, to gain relationship and interpersonal skills, to develop their necessary responsibilities. The protection, development and maintenance of sexual health depends on the awareness of individuals about sexuality and sexual health. Awareness begins in the family and is provided with comprehensive sexual health education in accordance with the needs in all periods of life such as preschool, school and after school. Sexual health education is not welcomed in developing countries. At the heart of this is the belief that sexual health education will encourage young people to have sexual intercourse. The development of sexual education is achieved in all age ranges with questions and answers that arise according to different age characteristics. Sexual health education is a very important factor for the psychological and physiological health of individuals in a society. Key words: sexual health education, sexual health education, reproductive health, abuse , parents, child abuse, Source of sexual information


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