Behavioral Interventions: Comprehensive Sexuality Education

[Guest guest]

Young people have unprotected sexual intercourse with one or more

partners, potentially exposing themselves to HIV, other sexually

transmitted infections (STIs), or unintentional pregnancy. Comprehensive

sexuality education (CSE) programs work to delay initiation of sex,

reduce the number of sexual partners, and increase the use of condoms

and other forms of contraception.

The global HIV epidemic cannot be reversed without sustained success in

reducing new infections. The proportion of new HIV infections attributed

to young people varies greatly across countries and by type of epidemic.

A recent United Nations Children’s Fund report estimates that young

people aged 15 to 24 accounted for 41 percent of all new HIV infections

in adults in 2009. This represents an estimated 5 million young people.

In sub-Saharan Africa, nearly 3.3 million youth are living with HIV.

Globally, young women make up more than 60 percent of all young people

living with HIV; in sub-Saharan Africa, their share jumps to 72 percent.

Close to 100 studies have examined the impact of CSE programs around the

world. These studies include strong quasi-experimental or experimental

designs. Their results support several conclusions about the impact of

CSE programs.

- A third or more of these programs delayed sex, reduced frequency of

sex, reduced number of partners, increased condom use, increased overall

contraceptive use, or reduced unprotected sex.

- Almost two-thirds had a desired impact on one or more of these sexual

behaviors.

- None increased any measure of sexual activity.

- Virtually all programs that incorporated the core components had

significant desired effects on behavior.

- Their positive impact on behavior is modest, but programmatically

meaningful.

If implemented on a large scale, effective CSE programs represent a

cost-effective method of changing behavior and thus can serve as an

important component within comprehensive initiatives to reduce HIV,

other STIs, and unintended pregnancy.

Research and tools on Comprehensive Sexuality Education:

http://www.aidstar-one.com/focus_areas/prevention/pkb/behavioral_interventions/c\

omprehensive_sex_ed?utm_source=blog & utm_medium=social & utm_content=PKBSexEd & utm_c\

ampaign=PARTKEN

Pearson, MPH IBCLC

M & E Officer, AIDSTAR-One

Visit AIDSTAR-One http://www.aidstar-one.com

Follow AIDSTAR-One on Twitter www.twitter.com/AIDSTAROne

Like AIDSTAR-One on Facebook www.facebook.com/AIDSTAROne

[Guest guest]

Young people have unprotected sexual intercourse with one or more

partners, potentially exposing themselves to HIV, other sexually

transmitted infections (STIs), or unintentional pregnancy. Comprehensive

sexuality education (CSE) programs work to delay initiation of sex,

reduce the number of sexual partners, and increase the use of condoms

and other forms of contraception.

The global HIV epidemic cannot be reversed without sustained success in

reducing new infections. The proportion of new HIV infections attributed

to young people varies greatly across countries and by type of epidemic.

A recent United Nations Children’s Fund report estimates that young

people aged 15 to 24 accounted for 41 percent of all new HIV infections

in adults in 2009. This represents an estimated 5 million young people.

In sub-Saharan Africa, nearly 3.3 million youth are living with HIV.

Globally, young women make up more than 60 percent of all young people

living with HIV; in sub-Saharan Africa, their share jumps to 72 percent.

Close to 100 studies have examined the impact of CSE programs around the

world. These studies include strong quasi-experimental or experimental

designs. Their results support several conclusions about the impact of

CSE programs.

- A third or more of these programs delayed sex, reduced frequency of

sex, reduced number of partners, increased condom use, increased overall

contraceptive use, or reduced unprotected sex.

- Almost two-thirds had a desired impact on one or more of these sexual

behaviors.

- None increased any measure of sexual activity.

- Virtually all programs that incorporated the core components had

significant desired effects on behavior.

- Their positive impact on behavior is modest, but programmatically

meaningful.

If implemented on a large scale, effective CSE programs represent a

cost-effective method of changing behavior and thus can serve as an

important component within comprehensive initiatives to reduce HIV,

other STIs, and unintended pregnancy.

Research and tools on Comprehensive Sexuality Education:

http://www.aidstar-one.com/focus_areas/prevention/pkb/behavioral_interventions/c\

omprehensive_sex_ed?utm_source=blog & utm_medium=social & utm_content=PKBSexEd & utm_c\

ampaign=PARTKEN

Pearson, MPH IBCLC

M & E Officer, AIDSTAR-One

Visit AIDSTAR-One http://www.aidstar-one.com

Follow AIDSTAR-One on Twitter www.twitter.com/AIDSTAROne

Like AIDSTAR-One on Facebook www.facebook.com/AIDSTAROne