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Provocative questions in parochial sex education classes: higher incidence in younger students
Megan Moreno1, Cora C Breuner, Paula Lozano
1Adolescent Medicine, Child Health Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA. megan.moreno@seattlechildrens.org
Study Objective:
Recent data show US adolescents are engaging in sexual activity at earlier ages; however, little is known about young teens' sexual attitudes and behaviors. Examining teens' questions in sex education classes may provide insight into these attitudes and behaviors.
Design:
Quasi cohort study
Setting:
Parochial middle school sex education classes
Participants:
5(th) through 8(th) graders
Interventions:
Students' anonymous written questions submitted at the outset of sex education classes between 2003 and 2005.
Main Outcome Measures:
Questions were classified into topic categories. Three additional variables were then coded for each question. Ethics/guidance questions included requests for advice or value judgments. Prohibited questions included the topics homosexuality, abortion, masturbation, and contraception. "Red flag" questions were those that suggested consideration of or engagement in sexual behavior.
Results:
Among 473 questions submitted by 410 students, the most popular topics for 5(th)/6(th) graders were pregnancy and puberty, and for 7(th)/8(th) graders puberty and menstruation. 41 questions (8.6%) were prohibited. 29 questions (6.2%) asked about ethics/guidance. 18 questions (3.81%) were coded as red flag questions. A chi-square analysis showed that 5(th)/6(th) graders asked more questions in the ethics/guidance (8.3% versus 3.64%) and red flag question categories (5.53% versus 1.82%) (P < 0.05) than 7(th)/8(th) graders.
Conclusions:
Although provocative questions represent a minority of these middle students' queries, these requests suggest the urgency of providing appropriate guidance to young teens, given the risks of early sexual activity. The role of school education programs, physicians and parents in addressing questions of this sort should be considered.
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