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HIN: F.I.S.H. Net, January 1998



National Education Association
Health Information Network – January 1998

T he Joint United
Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) recently released a review which
shows that sexuality education does not increase the sexual activity of
youth and does indeed promote safer sexual practices. Released in October
1997, the finding is based on 68 reports about sexuality education from
several countries, including the United States.

The review set out
to use the descriptions of published educational programs to inform educators,
policy makers and program planners about how HIV prevention and sexuality
education affect the behavior of young people. This is typically assessed
by behavioral self-report measures, analyzing teen pregnancy and sexually
transmitted disease (STD) infection rates, or comparing self-reported
sexual behavior before and after an educational intervention.

According
to the review, educational programs of the highest quality affect behavior
as well as increase knowledge about HIV/AIDS. “High quality programs”
are described as those having the following characteristics:

have
focused curriculagive clear statements about behavioral aims feature clear
delineation of the risks of unprotected intercourse and methods to avoid
it

  • focus on learning
    activities that address social influences and media influences
  • teach and allow
    for practice in communication and negotiation skills
  • encourage openness
    in communicating about sexuality
  • are grounded in theories
    stressing the social nature of learning

     

    UNAIDS concluded that
    such quality educational programs have proven to be successful in helping
    to delay the onset of sexual activity and in protecting sexually-active
    youth from STDs and pregnancy. The results also support the idea that
    responsible sexual behavior can be learned and that education is best
    started prior to the initiation of sexual activity. The UNAIDS review
    yields encouraging results for those commited to sexuality education.
    Furthermore, it emphasizes how critical quality and timeliness are to
    the promotion of safer sexual practices among youth.

    For more information
    contact: UNAIDS, 26C 3 UN Plaza, New York, NY 10017; 212-824-6643; http://www.unaids.org.

    Source:
    SHOP TALK (School Opportunities and Progress) Bulletin, 1997 November
    26; Vol. 2: No. 17

    F.I.S.H. Net
    VOL. 3 – NUMBER 4 January 1998
    Support
    for this document was provided through Cooperative Agreement
    U87/310178-01 with the Division of Adolescent and School Health,
    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


    Cooperative
    Agreement Staff

    Paul
    R. Sathrum
    Project Coordinator    		 Vicki
    J. Harrison, M.S.W.
    Project Associate,
    F.I.S.H. NET Editor

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