Sex Education and Awareness

Introduction
There is a need to make sure children in school have the necessities to be successful in life beyond education. This project would educate high school age students on the dangers of having unprotected sex, childbearing, and how it affects teens. According to Willenz (2005), due to comprehensive sexual education programs, HIV risk behaviors have reduced with the delay in having sexual intercourse. This was based on research of over 15 years. This topic is important because without a sex education and awareness program in schools, children are unaware of sexually transmitted infections, contraception, and protection that can keep them safe.

Statement of Need
The population the project focused on was students with behavioral, mental, and/or educational needs that are being addressed in a nonpublic school setting. This population has a history of sexual abuse, depression, heavy alcohol or drug use, that are a few factors that increase the likelihood that a teen will become sexually active, according to Morgan (2002). Many students are going through puberty, have admitted to having unprotected sex, and have become pregnant shortly after graduating the program. According to Manning, Longmore, & Giordano (2003) adolescents have a need for attachment; attending to this need by engaging in unprotected sex can interfere with one’s mental, physical, and/or emotional well-being. Without a sex education and awareness program, students remain unaware of the health risks resulting from unsafe sexual practices, and are further unaware of the responsibilities of becoming a teen parent.

The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescents Health, provided by Manning, Longmore, & Giordano (2003) studied 7,470 teens from ages 15 and older. The study indicated that 23.8% of teens had sex only non-romantically, 62.5% had sex only romantically, and 14% of teens had sex both romantically and non-romantically

Description of the Intervention
After speaking with the school staff, the need for a sex education and awareness class was established. Sex is a taboo subject for many students who have been raped, abused, and/or molested; I worked with my supervisors to insure that this delicate subject matter was handled with caution and care. The topics planned for discussion were sexually transmitted infections, teen pregnancy, contraception and protection. Permission slips were developed for parents’/guardians’ understanding of what the class would entail. Due to different maturity levels of students, the class was scheduled to teach the females one day and the boys on a different day by health physician from the California State University Chico health center.

Evaluation of the Intervention
The sex education and awareness class was welcomed by all school staff and my supervisor. The response to sending out permission slips to parents and guardians regarding their children’s participation were high for the females and low for the males. 90% of the female students, ages 15 to 17, participated. The class took approximately forty-five minutes, covering all topics previously stated. Only 33% of the male students, ages 15-18, turned in permission slips. Due scheduling conflicts, our guest speaker was not able to be present for the male students’ class. A future date was rescheduled, and a letter was developed to update parents and guardians of the schedule changes.

The female students that were able to participate in the sex education and awareness class were excited. The girls provided questions for the guest speaker along with positive feedback. The outcome of the project with the female students helped school staff to see how important sex education is. The female students gave positive feedback, and related they were appreciative, in conclusion to the class.

Reflection on the Project
The overarching goal developed was for the sex education and awareness class to be integrated into the upcoming curriculum on a yearly basis. The purpose of this community project was to educate high school age students on safe sex and the responsibilities of becoming a parent. Having a sex education and awareness class should not be ignored. Every child is curious. With the right education children can chose to make the right choses for the right reasons, and safe sex is one of them.

References
Manning, W.D., & Longmore, M.A., & Giordano, P.C. (2003). Adolescents’ involvement in non-romantic sexual activity. Social Science Research, Volume 34, 384-407
Morgan, E. November, 2002. Adolescents and sex. Retrieved April 28, 2006 from http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/ncure/sex/chap4.html.
Willenz, P. (2005). Based on the research, comprehensive sex education is more effective at stopping the spread of HIV infection, says APA committee, retrieved April 28, 2006 from http://www.apa.org/releases/sexeducation.html.