 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Bilesha Perera, MSc, Prevention Resource Center, Indiana University, Room 110, Creative Arts Building, 2735, East 10th Street, Bloomington, IN 47408, 812 855 1237, pperera@indiana.edu and Mohammad Rahim Torabi, PhD, MPH, Dept. of Applied Health Science, Indiana University, HPER 116, 1025 E. 7th Street, Bloomington, IN 47405.
Introduction: Drastic changes have been observed in sexual behavior of pupils in Sri Lanka in the recent past. Health and education authorities are striving to find workable strategies to implement sex education programs in schools, where the topic of sex is a taboo. Students’ awareness and attitudes on the issue is vital for effective policy formulation. Method: A cross-sectional survey on a sample of 3,134 students was carried out using a self-administered questionnaire to identify opinions on sex education in schools and its influence on their sex behaviors. Results: The majority of the students surveyed were females (56.2%). Respondent ages ranged from 18 to 20 years. A higher percentage of males (91.3%) than females (79.3%) reported having known at least one friend who had been exposed to some form of sexual experience (Z = 9.22, p< 0.01). The majority (82.3% female, 84.9% male) supported sex education programs in schools. Nearly 35% of students who opposed sex education in schools believed that chances would be greater for students for early sexual debut if sex is taught in the schools. The corresponding figure for those who supported sex education was only 7.6% (Z= 14.06, p< 0.01). Conclusions: Sex related behaviors are common in the target population. An overwhelming majority of students supported comprehensive sex education programs in schools. Thus, the data support developing a positive sexual health profile for school children for helping students understand sex, associated risks and protective sex prior to consolidation of any risky sexual behaviors.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: School-Based Programs, Sex
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.