Introducing comprehensive sexuality education in Italian schools: from the co-construction to the evaluation of a pilot intervention.
BMC Public Health
; 24(1): 2089, 2024 Aug 02.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39095763
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
School-based comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is a powerful tool that provides young people with information on all aspects of sexuality and is aimed at protecting their sexual and reproductive health and well-being throughout their lives. Currently, CSE is not integrated within the schools' curriculum in Italy. This study describes the co-construction, implementation, and evaluation of a CSE project piloted among students attending lower secondary schools, in four regions of Italy. Evidence-based evaluation will be helpful in promote the inclusion of CSE programs in the Italian schools' curriculum.METHODS:
The pilot scheme was co-constructed by a multidisciplinary curriculum development group through a Delphi process, including educators who conducted the activities. The evaluation followed three directions the program (based on a literature review of CSE principles and recommended characteristics), implementation (assessing the execution of the program through the analysis of the reflection tools used by the educators), and short-term outcomes (assessing critical thinking and conscious behavioural choices through pre-post and satisfaction surveys).RESULTS:
The main goal, learning modules and content were defined and structured in five interventions with the students, and two with families and teachers. A total of 638 students were involved in the activity, across 11 schools. Data analysis of pre/post surveys reported a significant increase in knowledge in 12 of the 15 items investigated (p < 0.05), and a high level of satisfaction with the topics addressed. Qualitative analysis added information on the pivotal role of educators in CSE.CONCLUSIONS:
The national piloting of this educational activity provided positive insights regarding the co-construction, implementation and short-outcome evaluation, suggesting potential for scalability and future inclusion of CSE in the curricula of Italian schools.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
School Health Services
/
Sex Education
/
Program Evaluation
/
Curriculum
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
En
Journal:
BMC Public Health
Year:
2024
Document type:
Article