University of Zambia Medical Library

Sexual Education Does Lead to Safer Sexual Behaviour (UNAIDS Review, October 22, 1997)

With sexual health education for the young such a hotly-debated issue, UNAIDS commissioned a review of sixty eight reports on sexual health education from France, Mexico, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, as well as from different Nordic countries. This is the most comprehensive and up-to-date review of studies in this field, looking at sexual health education programmes and those incorporating education about the prevention of HIV, the human immuno-deficiency virus which causes AIDS. The review's primary intention was to inform policy makers, programme planners and educators about the impact of HIV and sexual health education on the behaviour of young people as described in the published literature.

The focus of the review was on research that studied the behavioural impact of HIV/AIDS and sexual health education on young people. The impact is most commonly assessed by comparing the subsequent sexual behaviour of young people who have received the relevant education with those who have not. Some indicators of sexual behaviour include adolescent pregnancy rates, sexually transmitted disease (STD) infection rates and self-reported sexual activity.

The main conclusions of the review were:

• Education about sexual health and/or HIV does not encourage increased sexual activity. Only three studies out of 68 reported a relation between such education and increased sexual interaction and these studies were regarded as having severe methodological limitations.
• Good quality programmes help delay first intercourse and protect sexually-active youth from sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, and from pregnancy. 22 studies reported that HIV and/or sexual health education either delayed the onset of sexual activity, reduced the number of sexual partners or reduced unplanned pregnancy and STD rates.
• Responsible and safe behaviour can be learned. u Sexual health education is best started before the onset of sexual activity.

• Have focused curricula, give clear statements about behavioural aims and feature clear delineation of the risks of unprotected sex and methods to avoid it.
• Focus on learning activities that address social influences and media influences.
• Teach, and allow for practice in, communication and negotiation skills.
• Encourage openness in communicating about sex; u Are grounded in theories stressing the social nature of learning.

Dr Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS, says: "Globally, there has been some increase in political commitment and in programmes responding to the right of people to be educated about their health, but much more needs to be done especially in the area of sexual health. And as this review shows, the quality of these programmes is all important in developing healthy behaviour in order to reduce transmission of HIV and other STDs. "The most important conclusion is that failing to provide appropriate and timely information to young people for fear of encouraging sexual activity is not now a viable option."

For more information, please contact Anne Winter, UNAIDS, Geneva (+41 22) 791.4577 or Gareth Jones, UNAIDS, Geneva, (+41 22) 791.3387 or Lisa Jacobs, Ogilvy, Adams and Rinehart, New York, (+1 212) 880.5325. You may also visit the UNAIDS Home Page on the Internet for more information about the programme.

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Last updated October 28, 1997

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