Interventions to Promote a Healthy Sexuality among School Adolescents: A Scoping Review

Loureiro, Fernanda; Ferreira, Margarida A.; Sarreira-de-Oliveira, Paula; Antunes, Ana Vanessa

doi:10.3390/jpm11111155

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 76 publications

(49 reference statements)

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“…One scoping review to promote healthy sexuality, which includes sexual agency, is unable to provide a definitive recommendation on what intervention is best implemented to promote healthy sexuality due to different contexts and poor trial design. However, the said review has highlighted the importance of programs and interventions that are multi-faceted and affect not only knowledge and cognition, but also a person’s social and emotional dimensions as well as their well-being [ 45 ]. The recent passage of the Philippine Reproductive Health Law, which has specific provisions for adolescent and youth reproductive health guidance and counseling, reproductive health education for adolescents, and prevention and management of reproductive health guidance and counselling, is a step in the right direction [ 46 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determinants of consistent condom use among Filipino women: Results from the 2017 Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey

et al. 2022

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Background Consistent condom use in women, defined as the self-reported usage of male condom in every sexual encounter of the respondent with her most recent partner in the last 12 months, had been perennially low in the Philippines. This is despite consistent condom use being a tested and proven public health intervention to prevent unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Considering the high fertility rate, teenage pregnancy rate, and the rapidly increasing incidence of HIV in the country, we identified the determinants of consistent condom use in the Philippines. Methods We used data from the individual recode of the 2017 Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey. We used logistic regression for survey data to identify factors associated with consistent condom use. Results Out of 25,074 respondents, only 261 (1.13%) have used condoms consistently with their most recent partner. Reach of information and education campaigns on contraceptive use via different media ranged from 62% via television to 7% via short messaging service. After adjusting for confounders, those who were able to ask their partners to use condoms during sexual intercourse have 6.18 times (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 6.18; 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI): 2.02. 18.94) greater odds of consistent condom use than those who were unable to ask their partners to use condoms during sexual intercourse. Meanwhile, HIV knowledge (aOR: 1.16; 95% CI: 0.98, 1.38) and hearing about contraception in television (aOR: 1.54; 95% CI: 1.00, 2.38) have weaker associations with consistent condom use. Conclusions The low percentage of those who use condoms consistently, together with the low reach of information and education campaigns, highlight the need to implement multi-faceted and context-specific interventions to promote sexual agency and/or consistent condom use to address the burden of unwanted pregnancies and HIV in the Philippines.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determinants of consistent condom use among Filipino women: Results from the 2017 Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey

et al. 2022

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“…Moreover, the risk approach does not cover the positive sexual health content that adolescents themselves wish to learn more about ( 17 , 25 , 31 ), which is perhaps why another review study found evidence of positive intervention effects when adolescents participate in the planning and implementation of programs ( 8 ). The health promotion approach shows promising evidence of effect ( 2 , 5 , 32 ), nonetheless, the health promotion perspective regarding adolescent sexual health is still understudied ( 5 , 14 , 23 ). There is a lack of synthesized evidence on the sexual health resources that adolescents want to learn about that can promote sexual health and well-being, e.g., sexual health literacy ( 14 ), self-esteem ( 6 ), respect and social skills regarding sexuality ( 23 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, previous review studies covering adolescent sexual health have primarily focused on North America ( 33 ) or employed a global perspective ( 32 , 34 ). Europe differs in many ways from North America, for instance, politically, culturally, and socio-economically which affects education as well as sexual health approaches in schools ( 35 , 36 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Promoting sexual health in schools: a systematic review of the European evidence

ABRAMS

Nordmyr

Forsman

2023

Front. Public Health

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IntroductionSexual ill-health is an urgent public health issue with subsequent social and economic costs. There is, therefore, a need for more effective sexual health promotion interventions in an early stage of life. Previous research has focused on preventive sexual health interventions applying a risk perspective, and the limited and scattered evidence concerning school-based sexual health promotion interventions employing a health-resource perspective has not been compiled and synthesized. Hence, this study aimed to systematically review the current evidence on the effects of sexual health promotion interventions conducted in schools in Europe.MethodA systematic review based on the JBI and PRISMA standards was performed, encompassing searches in seven databases to identify sexual health promotion interventions conducted in European schools between 2012 and 2022. Data coding was performed according to a predetermined protocol and included information on study characteristics, intervention content, methods, and outcomes relevant to the current review. A narrative synthesis of the included studies was performed, highlighting the collective results.ResultSeventeen records were included in the review, reporting on 16 individual studies conducted in 7 European countries. Of the 16 included studies, 13 had a quantitative research design, and three had a qualitative design. All three studies with a qualitative research design described positive effects experienced by the participants. Six of thirteen quantitative studies showed statistically significant positive effects on at least one of the outcomes of interest. The outcomes of interest were grouped into five areas, and most studies focused on the area of attitudes toward sexual health.ConclusionThe findings indicate promising evidence of effect for interventions with a health promotion approach, highlighting the importance of strengthening sexual health resources related to respect, communication skills, attitudes, and other positive psycho-social aspects of sexual health. Most sexual health promotion intervention studies have focused on sexual health resource outcomes connected to attitudes and skills, whereas a comprehensive focus on the multi-dimensional sexual health literacy concept is less common and can be recommended to be included in future intervention research.

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“…In terms of services, evidence shows that school health programs can support young people in adopting lifelong behaviours and attitudes that reduce their risk of HIV, other STIs, and pregnancies [ 14 ], [ 15 ],[ 16 ]. Based on this, the South African government has subsequently taken steps to put an Integrated School Health Program (ISHP) in place [ 8 ] but evidence of successes and challenges are not currently available as these projects often have limited coverage or limited periods of implementation or follow-up [ 9 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“I want one nurse who is friendly to talk to me properly like a friend”: Learner preferences for HIV and contraceptive service provision in Gauteng, South Africa

Moolla,

Constance,

Ngcobo

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Background Research with adolescents indicates that youth aged 15–24 years, especially females, are at high risk for HIV infection. The overall HIV prevalence among youth in this age group was 6.2% estimated in 2022. In addition, > 800,000 adolescents are newly infected with HIV every year and 79% of these infections occur in sub-Saharan Africa. The health service provision preferences and needs of adolescents are critical to reaching this population. Methods This qualitative study was conducted with learners from three public secondary schools in Gauteng, South Africa. Using convenience sampling, 22 in-depth stakeholder interviews (KIIs) with stakeholders and 8 focus group discussions (FGDs) with 55 learners aged ≥ 15, were conducted between March and October 2018. Learners < 18 were given assent and parental consent forms, whilst those ≥ 18 could consent of their own accord. KIIs and FGDs were conducted in private venues in the preferred language by trained interviewers and audio-recorded. Audio files were transcribed verbatim and translated into English if needed. Data were analysed thematically using NVivo version 11. Results The findings from both stakeholders and learners indicate many critical accessibility barriers which include: negative healthcare staff attitudes from older judgemental staff; stigmatisation from healthcare workers, the community as well as family; a lack of private consulting spaces and no confidentiality of patient information at facilities; inconvenient clinic operating times; long queues and facility resource issues. Both groups of participants suggested that accessibility to healthcare could be improved through value-added services (including free Wi-Fi and food), social gatherings and educational information sessions, as well as being staffed by younger, friendlier, confidential and non-judgemental staff in a private healthcare setting. Conclusion It is clear that there are many critical barriers that deter learners from accessing HIV and contraceptive services. Provision of private rooms and trying to ensure information confidentiality for youth-friendly services at locations and times that can be easily accessed by learners is key. Greater emphasis on learner-parent-teacher communication around sexual health education at school is needed along with making this information being more readily available to learners.

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Interventions to Promote a Healthy Sexuality among School Adolescents: A Scoping Review

Cited by 8 publications

References 76 publications

Determinants of consistent condom use among Filipino women: Results from the 2017 Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey

Determinants of consistent condom use among Filipino women: Results from the 2017 Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey

Promoting sexual health in schools: a systematic review of the European evidence

“I want one nurse who is friendly to talk to me properly like a friend”: Learner preferences for HIV and contraceptive service provision in Gauteng, South Africa

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