Citation

Shekar A, Gross A, Luebbers E, Honsky J. J. Pediatr. Adolesc. Gynecol. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jpag.2019.12.005

PMID

31874315

Abstract

STUDY OBJECTIVE: We aim to explore the impact of an interprofessional graduate student-led sexual education curriculum on (a) sexual self efficacy, (b) perceived importance of sexual consent, and (c) willingness to intervene against sexual violence in the high-risk population of detained youths.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Medical, nursing, social work and physician assistant students implemented a 3-session comprehensive sexual health curriculum for detained youth (n=253). INTERVENTIONS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The curriculum from Son et al. (2017) was adapted to include a more targeted curriculum on consent and safe relationships. Youth completed pre- and post-intervention assessments that evaluated their sexual self efficacy and violence-related beliefs and behaviors.

RESULTS: Detained youths completing the curriculum showed statistically significant increases in the sexual self efficacy (p<0.001), view of the importance of consent (p<0.001), and willingness to intervene (p=0.0027). The subset of males and adolescents ages 17-19 achieved statistical significant improvement in each category, however, none was seen in adolescents ages 12-14. Females showed statistically significant improvement in sexual self efficacy scores only.

CONCLUSIONS: The curriculum addressing topics of consent and sexual violence was effective in improving detained youths' belief in their ability to safely navigate a sexual encounter and their attitudes toward sexual assault. Additional research on gender and age specific programming and the long term impact on sexual health risk behaviors is needed.

Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Language: en

Keywords

adolescent; juvenile delinquency; self efficacy; sex education; sexual health; sexual violence