Making the Case for School-Based Sexual Health Education
Youth Want Sexual Health Education in Schools
Canadian youth are nearly unanimous in their opinion that broadly based sexual health education is needed in schools.
Every survey of young Canadians that has been done on this topic indicates that Canadian youth are unequivocal in recognizing the importance of being well informed about sexual health through school-based programs and that they want a wide range of relevant topic areas to be addressed (Byers, et al., 2003a; Byers, et al, 2003b; Cairns, Collins, & Hiebert, 1994; Cregheur, Casey, & Banfield, 1992; HKPR Health Unit, 1999; Lawlor & Purcell, 1988; McKay & Holowaty, 1997; Smith, et al., 2001).
A series of surveys found that 89% to 93% of students either strongly agreed or agreed that it is important for them to receive sexual health education (Byers et al., 2003a; Byers et al., 2003b; McKay & Holowaty, 1998).
It is also clear that Canadian youth want a comprehensive, broadly based program of sexual health education to be taught. For example, Byers et al., (2003) asked New Brunswick high school students to rate the importance of 10 potential sexual health education topics.
The results indicated that students gave a high level of importance to most of the topics (see Table 1).
Table 1: Importance High School Students Assign to Potential Sexual Health Education Topics (N=1,536)| Topic | Total Ave. Rating | Females | Males |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sexually Transmitted Infection | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.4 |
| Birth Control & Safer Sex Practices | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.2 |
| Sexual Coercion & Sexual Assault | 4.1 | 4.3 | 3.9 |
| Personal Safety | 4.0 | 4.2 | 3.9 |
| Sexual Decision-making in dating relationships | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.6 |
| Reproduction | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.7 |
| Puberty | 3.7 | 3.9 | 3.6 |
| Sexual Pleasure & Enjoyment | 3.2 | 2.8 | 3.7 |
| Abstinence | 3.1 | 3.3 | 2.8 |
| Correct Names for Genitals | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.9 |
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Source: Byers et al. (2003a). An adolescent perspective on sexual health education at school and at home: I. high school students. The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 12, 1-17.
Last Modified: July 17, 2007
