Sexual Education and Women Empowerment in Health: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

Objectives: Women constitute almost 50% of the world population and play a number of roles in the community. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between sex education and women empowerment in health. Methods: Based on the aim of the study, the data were obtained reviewing the related literature on electronic and non-electronic websites and using equivalent keywords published until the last week of February 2018. In addition, mesh terms and key words were included in this research. Inclusion criteria were articles published from 2005 to February 2018. All the observation or interventional studies including ten articles which met the search criteria were studied. Results: The results revealed that sex education has different effects on sexual attitudes or activities of women. Further, it was effective in increasing the sexual autonomy of female college students. Furthermore, health providers’ contribution may improve sexual autonomy. In the current study, sex education programs were effective at increasing HIV/AIDS ( Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) knowledge and condom use, reducing the risk of unprotected intercourse and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), as well as unplanned pregnancy and abortion. Finally, abstinence-plus sex education programs increased health knowledge while they reduced risky sexual behaviors. Conclusions: In general, sex education is a critical method of women empowerment in health through increasing their health knowledge and related behaviors. Therefore, a compilation program of sex education is more useful. Accordingly, seeking to place sex training in the educational curriculum in accordance with the culture of the countries is a necessity.

Association Between Sexual and Genital Hygiene Habits With the Urinary Tract Infection During Pregnancy: A Case-Control Study

“…Therefore, educating the spouses about the effect of behavioral risk factors on UTI is very important in planning strategies for preventing UTI during pregnancy. Furthermore, educating the spouses by health professionals with respect to their culture can increase their health knowledge about the sexual and genital hygiene and reduce the risk of urogenital infection among pregnant women (28,29).…”

Effect of Educational Counseling on Knowledge and Attitude of Pregnant Women Towards Sex During Pregnancy

“…Similarly, Thammaraksa et al suggested that sexual education causes a significant increase in the attitude score of guidance school teachers (33). McGuirl and Wiederman as well as Mirzaii and Sharifi have also created a more positive attitude towards sexual issues by educating women and men (34,35). WHO emphasizes that planned programs regarding sexual issues positively influences on health sexual attitudes and behaviors (36).…”

The Comparison of Eastern and Western Societies Attitudes Towards Offering Sex Education in Schools

“…This could be more evident when a study of female students was conducted. Female students who receive primarily abstinence knowledge has the least possibility on unplanned pregnancy [9]. However, the school-based sex education could provide various outcomes according to the knowledge taught to students.…”

“…However, the school-based sex education could provide various outcomes according to the knowledge taught to students. For instance, abstinence-plus programs were believed to bring the most positive outcomes of increasing protection and knowledge while reducing the risks [9]. This belief is derived from countless randomized trials with a large base number for scholars to draw a conclusion, which can be proved by results provided by students.…”

“…The positive outcomes are not only useful in UK, but also the whole Europe. This can be induced by experimental results, as sex education knowledge enable students understand more about HIV and other sex-related diseases, therefore students would consciously remember to use condoms during sex behaviors [9].…”