External Resources
Sexual Health Education Q&A
Educators and public health professionals are often asked to explain the rationale, philosophy, and content of proposed or existing sexual health education programs. This document, prepared by the Sex Information and Education Council of Canada (www.sieccan.org) provides research based answers to some of the most common questions that parents, communities, school and health administrators, governments, and media may have about sexual health education in the schools.
The questions addressed in the document include:
- Why do we need sexual health education in the schools?
- Do parents want sexual health education taught in the schools?
- Do young people want sexual health education taught in the schools?
- Does sexual health education that provides information on contraception and condom use lead youth to become sexually active at an earlier age?
- What is the evidence that sexual health education programs can effectively help youth reduce their risk of unintended pregnancy and STI/HIV infection?
- What are the key ingredients of behaviourally effective sexual health education programs?
- What is the impact of making condoms easily available to teenagers?
- Are "abstinence-only" programs an appropriate form of school-based sexual health education?
- Should sexual health education teach young people about sexual orientation?
- What are the social and economic benefits to society of implementing broadly-based sexual health education in the schools?
Together, the research-based answers to these and other pertinent questions provided in this document constitute a compelling rationale and support for the provision of broadly-based sexual health education in our schools.
Last Modified: September 5, 2006
