142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Family, Social, and Sexual Health Education in Elementary Aged Children

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Monday, November 17, 2014

Madeline Eells , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Sabrina Bedell , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Tara Higgins , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Suleiman Ismael , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
John Nesbitt , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Colette Oesterle , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Nicholas Sinclair , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Thomas V. Delaney, PhD , Pediatrics, UVM College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Liz Shayne , The Schoolhouse Learning Center, South Burlington, VT
Eileen CichoskiKelly , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Jan K. Carney, MD MPH , Department of Medicine, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Intro: Public health agencies stress the importance of school health education, including family, social and sexual health. The Schoolhouse Learning Center, a private Vermont elementary school with grades K-5, wishes to implement a social health curriculum guided by the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS).

Objective: To identify Schoolhouse community perceptions to inform development of a social health curriculum.   

Methods: Schoolhouse families were surveyed about a family, social and sexual health curriculum, included 41 questions, and included topics from the SIECUS curriculum. A faculty focus group was held to identify topics covered in the current curriculum and faculty perceptions about social health education.

Results: 40 families received surveys and 34 were returned and included in the analysis. 97% of parents agreed that social health education should be provided in school, and that parents and schools should share responsibility for the education. 70% of parents agreed that school-based curriculum should begin in grades K-2. Of 33 potential topics, parents rated diversity, communication, and body image as the most important, and masturbation, abstinence, and marriage and lifetime commitment as least important. Schoolhouse staff views were similar.  About 25% of parents reported they were uncertain if a given topic was addressed in pediatrician visits.

Discussion: Results showed convergence between parents and educators on many current curricular topics. As compared to SIECUS curriculum, gaps in sexual health and sexual behavior education remain. Results suggest needs for faculty development. Further study is needed to define pediatrician involvement in social health education.   

Learning Areas:

Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Advocacy for health and health education
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Identify community perceptions to inform development of a social health curriculum. Describe use of SIECUS curriculum to build social health curricula. Formulate strategies to involve parents, teachers, and physicians in ensuring instruction in social health education.

Keyword(s): Health Promotion and Education, School-Based Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I was involved in the design, implementation, data collection, data analysis, writing, and presentation of this project.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3209.3: Sex, sexuality, and sexual behaviors