Factors facilitating implementation of school-based sexuality education in Portugal

The aims of the study were to examine in Portuguese schools the facilitating factors at micro- and exosystem levels generally associated with more effective implementation of sexuality education (SE).

A representative sample of principals/lead teachers from 296 Portuguese schools completed a questionnaire about SE at school that included items related to factors at micro- and exosystem levels. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to examine factors associated with the development of an SE project.

The majority of schools (96%) implemented some form of SE. Specifically, 79% of schools had developed an SE project. The odds that a school had designed an SE project increased significantly when the school did not implement extracurricular activities only (odds ratio [OR] 7.9), when it had an SE team (OR 7.2) and when it had established partnerships (OR 4.5). Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models for each factor and each level revealed that other variables were associated with the development of a project, such as the perceived support offered by the regional education department.

The results highlight the importance of variables at micro- and exosystem levels as facilitating factors, and reinforce the ecological approach as being well suited for SE/health education in schools. The findings have implications for policy-makers as well as for practice.