sexual health education

The overall goal of health education is to foster the growth of knowledge, attitudes, skills and lifelong behaviours that will enable the individual to assume responsibility for healthy living and personal well being.

In order to achieve this goal it is expected that Health Education programs strive toward:

building self-confidence in individuals;
developing positive relationships with others;
providing a safe environment in which students feel free to discuss related topics;
promoting individual responsibility for well-being;
actively involving the student in the learning process;
teaching life skills that will enable individuals to make responsible choices and to deal more effectively with the challenges they may encounter throughout their lives.

Adapted from the Calgary Board of Education, 1991.

SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION

Effective sexual health education needs to emphasize the shared responsibility of parents, peers, places of worship, schools, health care systems, governments, the media and a variety of other institutions and agencies. The principle of comprehensiveness emphasizes that programs are:

Full Information (All subject areas pertinent to sexual health are addressed in a way that is both culturally appropriate and reflects different social situations with the intent of reaching the widest possible audience.)
Integrated (Learning in formal settings, such as schools, community health care centres, and social service agencies is complemented and reinforced by education acquired in informal settings through parents, families, friends, the media and other sources.)
Coordinated (The various sources of sexual health education work collaboratively with each other and with related health, clinical and social services to enhance the impact of the education.)
Evidence Based (Planning occurs in collaboration with intended audiences, is based on research, and is evaluated on program objectives and participant feedback, updated regularly, and reinforced by an environment conducive to sexual health.)

Adapted from Health Canada's Canadian Guidelines for Sexual Health Education, 1994.

FACTS ABOUT SEXUAL HEALTH

Healthy sexuality is an integral part of a person's overall health and well being. Sexual health education is a key component of providing youth with the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to ensure healthy sexual development. You should know:

In 2000, a national survey revealed that nearly half of Canadian youth aged 15-19 are sexually active.¹
A national survey conducted in 1996/1997 indicated that 10.2% of males and 11.3% of females aged 15-24 experienced their first sexual intercourse before the age of 15.²
In one study (2001), Canadian youth stated that friends, siblings, and media sources are the most common sources of sexual health information.³
In the Netherlands (one of the countries with the lowest teen pregnancy rates), strategies that have helped reduce teen pregnancy include sexuality education, open discussion of human sexuality in the mass media, easier access to contraceptives, education programs and active participation of teens and parents in such programs.⁴
Evaluations of comprehensive sexual health education programs (full information at appropriate ages) revealed that they result in: postponement of first sexual intercourse; decreases in the number of partners; and significant increases in condom use.⁵Evaluations of abstinence only programs indicated they are ineffective at delaying intercourse, preventing pregnancy, and preventing STI.⁶
In a series of surveys of Canadians, 85% of parents and 89% of adolescents agreed that sexual health education should be provided in the schools.⁶
A Calgary Health Region parents survey (2001) indicated that, 76% of parents with children aged 2 - 9, and 87% of parents with children aged 10 - 17, occasionally or often talk with their children about relationships and sexuality. ¹
For teens, there is a hierarchy of preferred sexual behaviour. Abstinence from sexual activity for teenagers is preferred because of health consequences that may affect the individual. Postponement of initial sexual activity, adherence to one sexual partner and protected sexual intercourse are sequentially offered as the next best alternatives.⁷

References:

¹ Bibby, R. (2001). Canada’s Teens: Today, Yesterday, and Tomorrow. Toronto: Stoddart Publishing Co. Limited.
²Calgary Health Region. (2002). Health of the Calgary Region [On-line]. Available: http://www.crha-health.ab.ca/hocr/influ/index.htm
³DiCenso, A., Busca, C.A., Creatura, C., Holmes, J.A., Kalagin, W.F., & Partington, B.M. (2001). Completing the Picture: Adolescents Talk About What's Missing in Sexual Health Services. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 92(1), p. 35-38.
⁴Millar, W.J., & Wadhera, S. (1997). Teenage Pregnancies, 1974 to 1994. Health Reports, 9 (7). Catalogue #82-003-XPB.
⁵ Health Canada. (1998). STD epi update-Oral contraceptive and condom use. [On-line]. Available: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpb/lcdc/bah/epi/std511_e.html Calgary Health Region. (August, 2001). Electronic communication with Tim Anderson, specialist, projects.
⁶ McKay, A. (2000). Common Questions About Sexual Health Education. SIECCAN Newsletter, 35 (1), P. 129-137.
⁷ Calgary Health Services. (1996), Teen Sexuality Education and Birth Control. Sexual and Reproductive Health Program Education Services Manual. p. A-10-1.