Adolescent perspectives on addressing teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections in the classroom and beyond. Issue 1 (2nd January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fisher, Christopher M.; Kerr, Lucille; Ezer, Paulina; Kneip Pelster, Aja D.; Coleman, Jason D.; Tibbits, Melissa
• Is Part Of: Sex education. Volume 20:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 90
• Page End: 100
• Publication Date: 2020-01-02
• Subjects: Adolescents -- sexual health -- teenage pregnancy -- sexually transmitted infections -- programme development; Sex instruction -- Periodicals; Sex (Psychology) -- Periodicals; 613.9071
• DOI: 10.1080/14681811.2019.1618257
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1468-1811

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Sex education both in and beyond the classroom has been shown to have the potential to ameliorate negative sexual health outcomes for adolescents. School-based sex education and sexual health services targeting young people should be informed, in part, by teenagers themselves. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 41 young people aged 13–22 years in a mid-sized midwest US city to inform such programme development. Analysis employed both top-down and bottom-up approaches to coding. Four themes emerged regarding sex education activities in and out of school: the need for knowledge of current activities aimed at prevention; information-seeking behaviours; personal views on how to address teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs); and the ideal place to address these issues. Current activities were seen as ineffective or non-existent. Many participants indicated they would not engage actively in information-seeking unless they were affected personally by the issues. Participants' suggestions of how to address the issues included improving school services, introducing media campaigns and having peer or trusted-adult educators. Participants identified the need for services that offered confidentiality, a non-judgemental approach and a comfortable space to meet. Through direct engagement with youth, this research makes recommendations for interventions to address teenage pregnancy and STIs.