The Effect of State-Level Sex Education Policies on Youth Sexual Behaviors

Atkins, Danielle; Bradford, W. David

doi:10.1007/s10508-020-01867-9

Cited by 24 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Limited educational resources cannot meet the practical needs of young people, such as instruction in the prevention of sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy, how to use condoms, and consent issues ( 33 ). As evidenced by a sharp increase in the sexual activity of younger generations ( 32 ), traditional abstinence education no longer meets contemporary needs ( 34 – 36 ). In addition, 64.98% of students had received HIV/AIDS prevention and publicity services in school in the past year, 85.60% thought they needed HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment knowledge, and 94.60% thought it was necessary to increase HIV/AIDS prevention and health education activities; these findings suggest that there is still a lack of HIV/AIDS knowledge and publicity education in schools.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Study on HIV/AIDS knowledge, sexual attitudes, sexual behaviors, and preventive services among young students in Chongqing, China

Qing

Wang

Yang

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

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ObjectivesThis study aimed to describe the HIV/AIDS knowledge, sexual attitudes, and sexual behaviors of young students (14–25 years) in Chongqing, China, and to examine their use of preventive services and related factors.MethodA cross-sectional study was conducted with students from 67 schools from December 2019 to June 2021. The chi-square test, non-parametric test to assess the differences between respondents with different characteristics in the above aspects. Additionally, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine factors associated with the awareness of HIV/AIDS knowledge. Confidence intervals without crossover or P < 0.05 was considered significant.ResultsA total of 31,782 participants were included in the study. A total of 62.62% of the respondents were considered to be aware of basic HIV/AIDS knowledge, including 78.44%, 62.15%, and 52.08% in undergraduate colleges, junior colleges and secondary vocational schools, respectively. In total, 60.96% of males and 29.42% of females accepted premarital sex, 15.49% of males and 6.18% of females reported being sexually experienced, and only 57.18% of the students used condoms every time they had sex. The percentage of condom use among students who were aware of HIV/AIDS knowledge was higher than that among students who were not aware. A total of 85.60% of the students thought they needed HIV/AIDS prevention and control knowledge, and 94.60% thought more health education activities on HIV/AIDS prevention needed to be conducted in schools. Entrance education, lectures or consultation hotlines, WeChat official accounts and other media platforms were rated as the most acceptable HIV/AIDS prevention education methods.ConclusionThese respondents lacked knowledge about HIV/AIDS, and an increasing number of students show an open attitude toward premarital sex and engage in risky sexual behaviors. It is urgent to enhance and widely disseminate comprehensive HIV/AIDS and sexual health education in multiple formats.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Study on HIV/AIDS knowledge, sexual attitudes, sexual behaviors, and preventive services among young students in Chongqing, China

Qing

Wang

Yang

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

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“… 14 , 15 While sexual health education is not mandated in Alabama public schools, those that do offer this curriculum are required to emphasize abstinence as the “expected social standard” for unmarried people, 16 despite studies indicating an association between abstinence-only education and higher rates of sexual activity among youth. 17 , 18 The state continues to interfere in the sexuality and gender of youth, including passing AL SB184 in April 2022, which criminalizes the prescription or administration of gender-affirming medications and procedures for the treatment of gender dysphoria in youth under the age of 19. 19 This example of intervention stigma, which affects providers and clients who engage in a medical treatment that is deemed socially unacceptable, 20 highlights the stigmatization of sexual health in Alabama.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“We Feel Like Everybody's Going to Judge us”: Black Adolescent Girls’ and Young Women's Perspectives on Barriers to and Opportunities for Improving Sexual Health Care, Including PrEP, in the Southern U.S

Pratt

Jeffcoat

Hill

et al. 2022

J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care

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Black adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) are disproportionately affected by HIV in the southern U.S.; however, PrEP prescriptions to Black AGYW remain scarce. We conducted in-depth interviews (IDIs) with Black AGYW ages 14-24 in Alabama to explore opportunities for and barriers to sexual health care including PrEP prescription. Twelve AGYW participated in IDIs with median age 20 (range 19-24). All reported condomless sex, 1-3 sexual partners in the past 3 months, and 6 reported prior STI. Themes included: 1) Stigma related to sex contributes to inadequate discussions with educators, healthcare providers, and parents about sexual health; 2) Intersecting stigmas around race and gender impact Black women's care-seeking behavior; 3) Many AGYW are aware of PrEP but don't perceive it as an option for them. Multifaceted interventions utilizing the perspectives, voices, and experiences of Black cisgender AGYW are needed to curb the HIV epidemic in Alabama and the U.S. South.

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“…Policy has also played a part in what adolescents are learning through sex education programs, and there are meaningful differences between abstinence‐only and comprehensive sex education. Atkins and Bradford (2021) examined how abstinence‐only education led to more sexual behavior and less contraceptive use (e.g., condoms and birth control), whereas comprehensive sex education was correlated with higher levels of adolescent abstinence and contraceptive use among sexually active youth. The use of these programs differs across the United States, with more school districts opting for abstinence‐only education or no sex education at all (Guttmacher Institute, 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Young adults' perceptions of morality‐based messages from parents about sex: An exploratory study

Payne,

Mitchell,

Lopez

et al. 2023

Family Relations

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ObjectiveThe goal of this study was to explore the messages young adults received from their parents about sexual morality.BackgroundResearch on parent–child communication about sexuality has shown that parents are likely to convey moral messages about sex, however, little is known about the content of these messages.MethodYoung adults (N = 350) were surveyed about parent–child communication as part of a larger study (N = 425). This paper focuses on perceptions of messages about sexual morality young adults believe they received from their parents while growing up.ResultsResults indicate parents may unknowingly be providing gendered information reinforcing sexual scripts. Specifically, women are differentially taught about relationship structures (e.g., marriage), abstinence, consent, avoidance of pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, contraception, and autonomy, while also receiving disproportionately more mixed, unclear messages than men.ConclusionsEmerging adult recollections on parent–child discussions tended to be general in scope and lacked the specificity that could inform sexual knowledge and behaviors.ImplicationsThese thematic messages related to sexual morality can be utilized to inform sexual education and parent education programs related to sexuality, sexual knowledge, and communication. Lack of comprehensive sexual education and parent–child discussions may have implications for health and well‐being.

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The Effect of State-Level Sex Education Policies on Youth Sexual Behaviors

Cited by 24 publications

References 20 publications

Study on HIV/AIDS knowledge, sexual attitudes, sexual behaviors, and preventive services among young students in Chongqing, China

Study on HIV/AIDS knowledge, sexual attitudes, sexual behaviors, and preventive services among young students in Chongqing, China

“We Feel Like Everybody's Going to Judge us”: Black Adolescent Girls’ and Young Women's Perspectives on Barriers to and Opportunities for Improving Sexual Health Care, Including PrEP, in the Southern U.S

Young adults' perceptions of morality‐based messages from parents about sex: An exploratory study

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