Sexual behavior and sex education needs among high school students

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to comprehend the correlation between the conditions of experience in sexual behavior and the sex education needs of high school students. We conducted a cross-sectional study in January-February 2004 using self-response sheetstargeting 681 students (15-16 years old) attending three public high schools in Ibaraki Prefecture and received valid responses from 627. The subjects of the analysis were divided into three groups depending on the conditions of experience in sexual behavior. We found that, as sexual behavior becomes more active, there are more pressing needs for sexual behavior related information such as "contraceptive methods" and "sexually transmitted infectious diseases" while lessinterest is shown in "male and female psychology" or "interaction between the sexes, " It became clear that the source of sex-related information is shifting from textbooks and school instruction to friends and news media. Although 30-40% of the subjects responded that they wanted to know more about the "nature of love" and "interaction between the sexes, " that is hardly handled in sex education. This suggests that needs and the sources of information on sex-related issues also differ.Judging from this result, if instruction in sex education had more varied content depending on experience in sexual behavior, there would likely be a strong possibility of being able to respond better to student needs. Though the primary issues handled in current sex education are probably centered in the provision of medical knowledge, it can be assumed that high school students want to know more essential matters as well as specific methods and it would be desirable for sex education to provide more multifaceted information.