Outcomes of three different models for sex education and citizenship programs concerning knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of Brazilian adolescents

Abstract

Three different school-based sex education and citizenship programs in public schools in Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, and Salvador, Brazil, were evaluated in a cross-sectional study comparing knowledge, attitudes, and practices in sexuality, citizenship, and gender issues among adolescents participating in the programs' activities as compared to adolescents enrolled in schools without such programs (controls). Results showed that Salvador's program achieved good results, with significant changes in knowledge on sexuality and reproductive physiology, attitudes regarding citizenship, and current use of modern contraceptives; Rio de Janeiro's program succeeded in improving students' knowledge of reproductive physiology and attitudes towards sexuality; Belo Horizonte's participants showed greater knowledge of reproductive physiology and STI/HIV prevention but had less positive attitudes towards gender issues, while reporting greater sexual activity. The main difference between Salvador's program and the others was the focus on creative and cultural activities; Belo Horizonte's main difference was its lack of interaction with health services and professionals. However, after the evaluation Belo Horizonte reframed its educational strategies and launched a scaling-up process in a joint effort with the health and school systems.

Revisiting the use of condoms in Brazil

“…The reports were not included in Table 1, but condom use information from the PCAP report 14 , the national study of crack users 12 , and the RDS-TS study 22 were described. Studies addressing the type of intervention to encourage condom use were also identified: combined interventions-five studies 29,[55][56][57][58] (Table 3) and only one interventioneight studies 53,57,[59][60][61][62][63][64] (Table 4).…”

“…We identified proposals of intervention that have been proven effective to encourage condom use (Tables 3 and 4) 29,53,[55][56][57][58][60][61][62][63][64] . These include a combination of interventions to improve the adherence to condoms and to support groups to discuss their use and negotiation.…”

Changes in sexual behavior following a sex education program in Brazilian public schools

“…From 1994 through 1998 a sex education project was implemented in 60 public schools in the city of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, by two local NGOs, Humbiumbi and Prosex, sponsored by the Odebrecht Foundation 9 . An evaluation of the project highlighted the need for integration with health services and for the inclusion of health indicators in the project, resulting in changes to the project's theoretical framework, objectives and teacher training agenda 10 In the year 2000, the program was also implemented in another five municipalities by another private non-profit organization, the Belgo Foundation.…”

Mexican teenagers attendance to sexual and reproductive counseling services

“…9 En este contexto, resulta indispensable elaborar planes eficaces, basados en evidencia científica, que atiendan la educación con un enfoque de trabajo integral que fomente los conocimientos y modifique las conductas de salud sexual y reproductiva. 16 En los resultados de este estudio se puede apreciar que los adolescentes con más probabilidad de acudir a la CSSyR grupal son los de sexo masculino y aquellos que no tienen problemas de salud; mientras que los que tiene menos, son los que cuentan con menos conocimiento de métodos de prevención de embarazo. El hallazgo de que los adolescentes del sexo masculino tengan más probabilidad de asistir a la CSSyR grupal podría explicarse por el papel de género que estructura el ejercicio y las conductas frente a la sexualidad.…”