Trends in the teaching of sexual and reproductive health topics and skills in required courses in secondary schools, in 38 US states between 2008 and 2018

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Health Educ Res
• Personal Author:
  Szucs, Leigh E. ; Demissie, Zewditu ; Steiner, Riley J. ; Brener, Nancy D. ; Lindberg, Laura ; Young, Emily ; Rasberry, Catherine N.
• Description:
  Information about state and local education policies regarding sexually transmitted infections, including human immunodeficiency virus, and unintended pregnancy prevention is available, yet less is known about school-level implementation of such policies. We examine trends in the percentage of US secondary schools teaching sexual and reproductive health (SRH) topics in a required course in Grades 6-8 and 9-12, including healthy relationships, sexual abstinence, condoms and condoms with other contraceptive methods. We analyze representative data from 38 states across six cycles of School Health Profiles (2008-18) assessed through self-administered questionnaires completed by lead health teachers. Logistic regression models examined linear trends in the percentages of schools teaching topics for Grades 6-8 and 9-12, separately. Trends were calculated for states having representative data for at least three cycles, including 2018. During 2008-18, it was more common to have increases in teaching how to obtain condoms, correct condom use and use condoms with other contraceptive methods in Grades 6-12 than decreases. More states showed decreases in teaching abstinence in Grades 6-12 than increases. Most states had no change in teaching SRH topics across grades. Findings suggest some improvement in school-based SRH education, yet efforts are needed to improve comprehensive, developmentally appropriate content.
• Subjects:
  Condoms Female Humans Pregnancy Reproductive Health Schools Sex Education Sexual Behavior Sexually Transmitted Diseases
• Source:
  Health Educ Res. 38(1):84-94
• Pubmed ID:
  36315469
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC11002834
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  CC999999/ImCDC/Intramural CDC HHSUnited States/
• Volume:
  38
• Issue:
  1
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:f5daa26d1ea4e1f48daef8d03f2b8b0e922efd5dd2735ee80af5d476b572c52a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/154144/cdc_154144_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 91.08 KB ]