A Group Randomized Trial Evaluating High School FLASH, a Comprehensive Sexual Health Curriculum.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Health
• Sexual Health Education

Background:

• Adolescent sexual health education is crucial for preventing unintended pregnancies and STIs.
• School-based programs offer a platform for reaching diverse student populations.
• Evaluating comprehensive curricula like FLASH is essential for evidence-based interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of the school-based comprehensive sexual health curriculum (FLASH).
• To examine FLASH's impact on high-school students' sexual behaviors and related psychosocial outcomes.
• To compare FLASH with a knowledge-based curriculum.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 1,597 9th and 10th graders from 20 U.S. schools participated.
• Schools were randomized to receive either FLASH or a knowledge-based curriculum.
• Follow-up surveys were conducted at 3 and 12 months post-instruction.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in overall rates of vaginal sex or unprotected vaginal sex.
• FLASH significantly reduced unprotected vaginal sex at 3 months for students not sexually experienced at baseline (p = .04).
• Significant improvements were observed in psychosocial outcomes, including self-efficacy and attitudes toward contraception.

Conclusions:

• FLASH shows short-term and long-term impacts on behavioral determinants.
• A significant protective effect on unprotected sex was found for inexperienced adolescents.
• Overall behavioral impacts were not evident for the entire study population, highlighting the need for targeted approaches.