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Effects of a school-based sexuality education program on peer educators: the Teen PEP model
J M Jennings1, S Howard, C L Perotte
1Center for Child and Community Health Research (CCHR), Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA and Center for Supportive Schools (formerly Princeton Center for Leadership Training), 911 Commons Way, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA.
Peer-led Teen PEP programs significantly improved high school students' sexual health knowledge and intentions to practice safer sex. This sexual education approach empowers teens to reduce risks of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Adolescent Health
- Health Education
Background:
- Unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, are significant public health concerns among adolescents.
- Peer-led sexuality education programs offer a promising avenue for improving sexual health knowledge and behaviors in high school students.
- The Teen Prevention Education Program (Teen PEP) is a peer-led initiative designed to address these issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of the Teen PEP program on high school students' sexual health knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors.
- To assess the program's effectiveness in preventing unintended pregnancy and STIs, including HIV.
Main Methods:
- A quasi-experimental, nonrandomized study design was employed.
- The study included 96 intervention (Teen PEP peer educators) and 61 comparison students from five New Jersey high schools.
- Data were collected through baseline and 12-month follow-up surveys, with analyses including summary statistics and multiple regression.
Main Results:
- Teen PEP peer educators reported significantly greater opportunities to practice sexual risk reduction skills compared to the comparison group.
- Intervention participants showed higher intentions to discuss sexual health topics, set boundaries, and request STI testing from partners.
- Secondary analyses revealed significantly higher scores in sexual health knowledge and ability to refuse risky situations among Teen PEP educators.
Conclusions:
- Comprehensive, school-based sexuality education programs like Teen PEP, utilizing peer educators, can effectively enhance adolescent sexual health knowledge and attitudes.
- The program appears to foster positive behavioral intentions related to sexual risk reduction and communication.
- Peer-led approaches may be a valuable strategy for improving sexual health outcomes among high school students.
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