Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #119472

J. Nwando Olayiwola, MD, MPH, Department of Health Policy & Management, Harvard School of Public Health, 150 Stonefield Drive, #6, Waterbury, CT 06705, 646-281-1651, jancony@hotmail.com

Objective: To help set the framework for developing a sexual education policy in Lynn, MA public schools by assessing the level of parental support for comprehensive sexual education in Lynn schools.

Background: There is currently no formal sexual education policy in Lynn, MA. Lynn has the tenth highest rate of teen pregnancy in Massachusetts, higher rates of youth with Chlamydia and Gonorrhea, higher rates of teens reporting sexual activity, and lower rates of teens reporting HIV/AIDS education. However, education, programs and services are sparse in Lynn, MA.

The preliminary portion of this study involved an examination of the current sexual education curricula and sex-related services in Lynn, MA. Next, data collection was performed, using a randomly selected household survey of Lynn adults and parents. The survey contained a compilation of original and adapted, Lynn-specific items.

Results: Most respondents (88.17%) believe sexuality education should be taught in Lynn schools, and 86% support comprehensive sexual education over abstinence-only education. These findings were not significantly associated with demographic and socioeconomic variables.

Conclusion: Parents and adults in Lynn support a formal comprehensive sexual education policy in Lynn schools. A multi-disciplinary, age-appropriate and culturally-sensitive approach to instituting comprehensive sexual education in Lynn public schools is necessary to reduce adverse or unintended sexual outcomes for Lynn teenagers. An evidence-based model such as this can be applied to institute sexual education policies into other communities.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to

• Understand one approach to making a community-specific needs assessment.
• Gain familiarity with the national sexual education debate and it's effect of Massachusetts legislation.
• Understand the process involved in translating evidence-based research findings into policy changes at local and state levels.

Keywords: School Health Educators, Adolescent Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.