Andrew Porter, S. Cooper, P. C. Palmedo, N. Wojtowicz, Julia Chong, Marissa J. Maddalon
{"title":"Podcasts and Their Potential to Improve Sexual Health Literacy in Adolescents and Young Adults","authors":"Andrew Porter, S. Cooper, P. C. Palmedo, N. Wojtowicz, Julia Chong, Marissa J. Maddalon","doi":"10.1080/15546128.2021.1987365","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15546128.2021.1987365","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Low health literacy poses many problems in the public health field and is linked to numerous negative health outcomes, including STIs and unplanned pregnancies. While many interventions focus on giving adolescents and young adults access to comprehensive sex education, these interventions do not necessarily improve sexual health literacy, which is a major asset to improving sexual health. Learning the skills to access, understand, and use sexual health information can compensate for the deficit of comprehensive sex education in the U.S. and worldwide. One innovative way this issue can be addressed is through the use of educational sexual health podcasts. Podcasts are a proven, effective tool to disseminate health information to a large population of people. They can be particularly useful in increasing sexual health literacy by increasing access by eliminating logistical barriers and embarrassment and confidentiality issues.","PeriodicalId":45712,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Sexuality Education","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2021-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42520056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lori A. Rolleri Insignares, Tanya M. Bass, B. Taverner
{"title":"Sex Ed Lessons from COVID-19","authors":"Lori A. Rolleri Insignares, Tanya M. Bass, B. Taverner","doi":"10.1080/15546128.2021.1975592","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15546128.2021.1975592","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States was brought to a virtual standstill. National, state, and local governments, as well as the private sector, took stark measures to stem new cases of COVID-19 and “flatten the curve.” Among these measures were the closure of in-person classes at schools and universities and reduced access to in-person health care services. During the summer of 2020, the authors conducted an open-ended online survey with a convenience sample of sexuality educators, asking about their professional experiences in teaching sexuality education during the height of the pandemic. This article summarizes eight major themes that surfaced from a systematic analysis of the survey data and the authors’ commentary and lists of tips for teaching sexuality education virtually. Despite a multitude of challenges presented by the pandemic, sexuality educators found innovative ways to reach youth and adults with information and skills needed to make healthy decisions about their sexual health, link them to services, and advocate on their behalf.","PeriodicalId":45712,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Sexuality Education","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2021-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48974842","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amy L. Bordogna, Amanda C. Coyle, Rupa Nallamothu, Alina L. Manko, R. Yen
{"title":"Comprehensive Sexuality Education to Reduce Pregnancy and STIs in Adolescents in the United States: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis","authors":"Amy L. Bordogna, Amanda C. Coyle, Rupa Nallamothu, Alina L. Manko, R. Yen","doi":"10.1080/15546128.2022.2080140","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15546128.2022.2080140","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The United States has a higher rate of teen pregnancy than any other developed country with 30% of American girls becoming pregnant before the age of 20. Laws regarding the inclusion and content of sexuality education vary across the country, which are associated with differences in pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates between states. This systematic review aims to determine whether comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is more effective than abstinence-only or no sexuality education at reducing teenage pregnancy. Secondary objectives include analyzing the effect of CSE on STI incidence, sexual activity, safe-sex behaviors, and social discomfort. We searched multiple databases for studies published from 1990 to 2021. Twenty-nine studies met our inclusion criteria. Seven included pregnancy as an outcome, with three fitting our meta-analysis criteria. There was a decrease in pregnancy rates for participants in the CSE intervention compared to the control (n = 3, risk ratio = 0.89, 95%CI 0.79–1.00, I2 = 0%). We found that CSE is likely to reduce pregnancy rates; however, there was limited data available on this outcome. CSE increased safe-sex behaviors but did not have a notable impact on sexual activity or STIs. This review can serve as evidence for the implementation of CSE in the US.","PeriodicalId":45712,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Sexuality Education","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2021-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49602000","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Christi H. Esquivel, K. Wilson, W. Garney, E. B. McNeill, D. McMaughan, Sydney Brown, Taylor Graves-Boswell
{"title":"A Case Study Evaluating Youth Acceptability of Using the Connect – a Sexuality Education Game-Based Learning Program","authors":"Christi H. Esquivel, K. Wilson, W. Garney, E. B. McNeill, D. McMaughan, Sydney Brown, Taylor Graves-Boswell","doi":"10.1080/15546128.2021.1971128","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15546128.2021.1971128","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Game-based learning offers an interactive and effective way to teach health content and skills. This article discusses feasibility testing of Using the Connect (UTC), an innovative, game-based sexuality education program to evaluate its acceptability among youth. Utilizing mixed methods in a single case study design, qualitative and quantitative data was collected from youth (surveys, facilitated discussions, and observations). Qualitative data triangulated quantitative findings that youth liked the program design, felt the games and content were relatable, and learned knowledge and skills around adolescent development, accessing information, communication, and making healthy decisions through playing the games. Overall, UTC was highly acceptable to the youth; they had fun and learned information and skills. Not only would most participants recommend the program to friends, all reported they would participate in the program again and use the information they learned in the future.","PeriodicalId":45712,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Sexuality Education","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2021-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47286235","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sexological Worldview Development Explained by the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity","authors":"Justin A. Sitron, Lindsay Lock","doi":"10.1080/15546128.2021.1960665","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15546128.2021.1960665","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Sexological worldview is the lens through which someone sees and makes meaning of the sexual world around them. The Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS) may be a useful tool in operationalizing cultural humility and responsiveness to sexological differences. This research explored whether the DMIS explains the stages of someone’s sexological worldview development across a continuum of dualist to relativist perspectives and ways of interacting with others who are similar or different. The lead author interviewed 30 sexuality professionals and students in the US and found that the participants’ sexological worldview development could be explained using the DMIS framework. We discuss the use of the DMIS for the future design of Sexuality Attitudes Reassessment (SAR) programs, a type of training required in the credentialing of sexologists, and the measurement of SAR training outcomes as they pertain to cultural humility and responsiveness. Future research should focus on the development of an empirical instrument to measure sexological worldview development and SAR educators should create new, or align existing, training activities to match their SAR participants’ worldview development.","PeriodicalId":45712,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Sexuality Education","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2021-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45621976","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Denes, J. P. Crowley, Laurel P. Gibson, Emily L. Hamlin
{"title":"Mother-Son Communication about Sex: Exploring Associations with Emerging Adult Sons’ Sexual Self-Esteem, Anxiety, and Satisfaction","authors":"A. Denes, J. P. Crowley, Laurel P. Gibson, Emily L. Hamlin","doi":"10.1080/15546128.2021.1959474","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15546128.2021.1959474","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Parent-child communication about sex and sexuality during adolescence may have long-lasting effects on children’s sexual self-concept and sexual health. As such, the present study explored the connection between mother-son communication about sex and sexuality while growing up and emerging adult sons’ sexual well-being. The sample consisted of 137 sexually active men between the ages of 18 and 23. The findings revealed that open mother-son communication was negatively associated with sons’ sexual anxiety and positively associated with sons’ sexual satisfaction, but that sons’ sexual self-esteem and anxiety did not account for the association between mother-son communication and sons’ sexual satisfaction. These findings provide preliminary evidence that sons’ perception that their mother provided an open and non-judgmental communication environment for discussing sex during adolescence is associated with positive sexual outcomes for emerging adult sons later in life. These findings and their implications are explored through the lens of communication privacy management theory.","PeriodicalId":45712,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Sexuality Education","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2021-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46560112","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"We’re Teaching About Condoms All Wrong: How Sex Educators Reinforce Negative Attitudes and Misinformation About Condoms and How to Change That","authors":"Logan Levkoff, M. Kempner","doi":"10.1080/15546128.2021.1960664","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15546128.2021.1960664","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract For decades, sexuality educators have fought to include condom lessons in sexuality education programs. Condoms have been promoted for good reason: they work to prevent pregnancy and remain the only form of contraception that also offers protection against STIs. While most sex educators agree that sexual health programs must include conversations about condoms, our current lessons, which remain rooted in early HIV-prevention efforts, actually perpetuate negative attitudes about condoms—including suggestions that they are difficult to use and an assumption that people dislike condoms. This article explains issues with current condom lessons and suggests a more positive approach.","PeriodicalId":45712,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Sexuality Education","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2021-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46908702","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Christopher N. King, Rachel M. Arthur, Jonathan R. Bennett, Wesley James, K. Matthews
{"title":"Evaluation of a Peer-Led Comprehensive Sexual Health Program for College Teens","authors":"Christopher N. King, Rachel M. Arthur, Jonathan R. Bennett, Wesley James, K. Matthews","doi":"10.1080/15546128.2021.1959472","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15546128.2021.1959472","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The study evaluated safe sex attitudes and intentions from a comprehensive, peer-led sexual health program for teenage students enrolled in three rural colleges in Mississippi. The methods consisted of pretest and posttest survey items regarding attitudes and intentions toward safe sex from 149 participants and a peer educator focus group on curriculum delivery and participation. Intentions and motivations for contraception and sexual risk awareness significantly improved at posttest for all participants. The focus group suggested that peer-led approaches are critical for engaging students, fostering participation, and addressing students’ sexual health needs in culturally sensitive ways.","PeriodicalId":45712,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Sexuality Education","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2021-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/15546128.2021.1959472","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45269859","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An Evaluation of Achieving Condom Empowerment (ACE)-Plus in Foster Care Agencies in New York City","authors":"Scott Herrling, Heather Hirsch","doi":"10.1080/15546128.2021.1959473","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15546128.2021.1959473","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objectives To test the ACE-Plus curriculum, a two-session program that teaches males in foster care and/or preventive services about correct and consistent condom use, and engagement with female partners to obtain and use contraception. Methods Nine foster care agencies in New York City randomly assigned 223 males aged 16–20 to the ACE-Plus intervention or a benign program. Youth completed surveys at baseline, 3-month follow-up, and 9-month follow-up. Regression analyses assessed the effects of program participation on condom use, use of hormonal birth control method, use of birth control by female sex partner(s), obtaining birth control with a sex partner(s), and communication about birth control with a sex partner(s). Results At 3-month follow-up, treatment youth were significantly more likely than control youth to report communicating with their sexual partner(s) about birth control (p = .0062). While not statistically significant, treatment youth were more likely to report obtaining birth control with a sex partner(s) than control youth at 3-month follow-up. Impact estimates for the remaining behavioral outcomes favored the control group, though not significantly. Implementation data suggest the program was delivered with fidelity. Conclusion Based on these mixed results, perhaps more developmental research into this short-duration intervention for this high-needs population is necessary.","PeriodicalId":45712,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Sexuality Education","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2021-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/15546128.2021.1959473","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"59959585","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Molly Secor-Turner, B. Randall, J. Owino, S. Harpin
{"title":"Adapting Evidence-Based Sexuality Education to Meet the Needs of Refugee Youth in the USA","authors":"Molly Secor-Turner, B. Randall, J. Owino, S. Harpin","doi":"10.1080/15546128.2021.1953659","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15546128.2021.1953659","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The sexual health of adolescents globally and in the USA remains a significant public health challenge. No evidence-based sexual health education programs exist that specifically target refugee adolescents. The purpose of this exploratory study was to describe the impact of an evidence-based sexual health education program previously demonstrated effectiveness in nonrefugee populations on refugee adolescents’ sexual health attitudes, beliefs, intentions and behaviors using minor adaptations to the curriculum. This analysis used a subsample of adolescents from refugee or immigrant backgrounds who participated in a community-based sexuality education program, Reach One Teach One-North Dakota (ROTO-ND). Previously validated scaled survey items were used to assess participants’ sexual health beliefs, self-efficacy, knowledge of sexual health resources, and behaviors. Summary statistics were calculated for sociodemographic characteristics categorized by length of time living in the USA. Bivariate unpaired comparisons demonstrated significant differences in the entire cohort on pre- to post-intervention scores on all outcome measures and scales while controlling for program attendance. Participant (n = 103) mean age was 16 and the majority were male (58%). The present study provides evidence that existing evidence-based interventions not intended to target refugee youth may contribute to meeting the unique sexual health education needs of refugee youth with minor adaptations.","PeriodicalId":45712,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Sexuality Education","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2021-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1080/15546128.2021.1953659","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42746043","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}