Sexuality Education for Children and Adolescents

Abstract

The purpose of this clinical report is to provide pediatricians updated research on evidence-based sexual and reproductive health education conducted since the original clinical report on the subject was published by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2001. Sexuality education is defined as teaching about human sexuality, including intimate relationships, human sexual anatomy, sexual reproduction, sexually transmitted infections, sexual activity, sexual orientation, gender identity, abstinence, contraception, and reproductive rights and responsibilities. Developmentally appropriate and evidence-based education about human sexuality and sexual reproduction over time provided by pediatricians, schools, other professionals, and parents is important to help children and adolescents make informed, positive, and safe choices about healthy relationships, responsible sexual activity, and their reproductive health. Sexuality education has been shown to help to prevent and reduce the risks of adolescent pregnancy, HIV, and sexually transmitted infections for children and adolescents with and without chronic health conditions and disabilities in the United States.

Talking to Parents About Adolescent Sexuality

“…All adolescents should receive information from their health care providers and parents about where and when to seek reproductive health care and screenings—including locations other than their regular providers, such as free health clinics, county health departments, and the family planning centers. The AAP recently released a clinical report on sexuality education 11 that reinforces the importance of the pediatrician’s role in communicating evidence-based reproductive health and sexuality education and suggests additional resources (included in Table 3). …”

Weight Loss Surgery in Adolescents

“…These should include use of intrauterine devices, since absorption of oral contraception may be impaired postprocedure 79 , 80 . Furthermore, given the baseline at‐risk behaviors of sexually active WLS teens, continued counseling about lowering high‐risk sexual practices should be a part of education 81 …”

Critical caring theory and public health nursing advocacy for comprehensive sexual health education

“…For this paper, CSHE is defined as a comprehensive approach to sexual health education that emphasizes evidence‐based, medically and scientifically accurate, age‐appropriate content that includes human development, puberty and reproduction, relationships, decision‐making, sexual violence prevention, body image, gender identity and sexual orientation, abstinence or delaying sexual activity, contraception, condom use, and disease prevention (Advocates for Youth, ; Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, ). Multiple professional groups concerned with adolescent health education support CSHE including the National Education Association (), National School Nurses Association (), American Academy of Pediatrics (Breuner & Mattson, ), American Public Health Association (), American Medical Association (), and the Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine (Santelli, Ott, Lyon, Rogers, & Summers, ).…”