ABSTRACT
Despite their increasing numbers, few of the sexuallity education and pregnancy preventative programs in developing countries have been evaluated. This study, conducted in 1995-1997, assesses the impact of a school-based sexuality education program, the Grade 7 Project, on 945 Jamaican seventh graders (aged 11-14) and their initiation of sexual activity and the use of contraception at first intercourse, as well as the knowledge and attitudes that influence their behaviors. Using a quasi-experimental design, the study measured the effects of the Grade 7 Project when the nine-month intervention was completed (short term) and one year after that (long term). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the project had no effect on initiation of sexual activity, but it had a positive short-term impact on use of contraception at first intercourse (P=.08); adolescents in the intervention group were more than twice as likely to use contraception. The project also had a positive short-term influence on several aspects of the adolescents' knowledge of and attitudes about sexuality and pregnancy. The modest impact of the Grade 7 project is encouraging, as school-based sexuality education programs of limited duration rarely have a long-term impact. Moreover, competing socioeconomic and cultural forces in Jamaica encourage early sexuality and parenthood among adolescents. The use of more participatory teaching methods and smaller class sizes might strengthen the Grade 7 Project and enhance its impact (AU)
Subject(s)
Humans , Adolescent , Adolescent Behavior , Jamaica , Sex Education/statistics & numerical data , Sexuality , Pregnancy in Adolescence , Caribbean RegionABSTRACT
Despite their increasing numbers, few of the sexuality education and pregnancy prevention programs in developing countries have been evaluated. This study, conducted in 1995-1997, assesses the impact of of a school-based sexuality education program, the Grade 7 Project, on 945 Jamaican seventh graders (aged 11-14) and their initiation of sexual activity and use of contraception at first intercourse, as well as the knowledge and attitudes that influence their behaviours. Using a quasi-experimental design, the studies measured the effect of the Grade 7 Project when the nine-month intervention was completed (short term) and one year after that (long term). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the project had no effect on initiation of sexual activity, but it had a positive short-term impact on the use of contraception at first intercourse (P = .08); adolescents in the intervention group were more than twice as likely to use contraception. The project also had a positive effect on several aspects of the adolescents' knowledge of and attitudes about sexuality and pregnancy. The modest impact of the Grade 7 Project is encouraging, as school-based sexuality education programs of limited duration rarely have a long-term impact. Moreover, competing socioeconomic and cultural forces in Jamaica encourage early sexuality and parenthood among adolescents. The use of more participatory teaching methods and smaller class sizes might strengthen the Grade 7 Project and enhance its impact. (AU)
Subject(s)
Child , Female , Humans , Male , Comparative Study , Adolescent , Sex Education , Contraception , Data Interpretation, Statistical , Evaluation Study , Follow-Up Studies , Jamaica , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Pregnancy , Sexual Behavior , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Despite their increasing numbers, few of the sexuality education and pregnancy prevention programs in developing countries have been evaluated. This study, conducted in 1995-1997, assesses the impact of a school-based sexuality education program, the Grade 7 Project, on 945 Jamaican seventh graders (aged 11-14) and their initiation of sexual activity and use of contraception at first intercourse, as well as the knowledge and attitudes that ingluence their behaviors. Using a quasi-experimental design, the study measured the effects of the Grade 7 Project when the nine-month intervention was completed (short term) and one year after that (long term). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the project had no effect on initiation of sexual activity, but it had a positive short-term impact on use of contraception at first intercourse (P=.08); adolescents in the intervention group were more than twice as likely to use contraception. The project also had a positive short-term influence on several aspects of the adolescents' knowledge of and attitudes about sexuality and pregnancy. The modest impact of the Grade 7 Project is encouraging, as school-based sexuality education programs of limited duration rarely have a long-term impact. Moreover, competing socioeconomic and cultural forces in Jamaica encourage early sexuality and parenthood among adolescents. The use of more participatory teaching methods and smaller class sizes might strengthen the Grade 7 Project and enhance its impact
Subject(s)
Sex Education , Program Evaluation , Adolescent , Pregnancy in Adolescence , JamaicaABSTRACT
Despite their increasing numbers, few of the sexuality education and pregnancy prevention programs in developing countries have been evaluated. This study, conducted in 1995-1997, assesses the impact of a school-based sexuality education program, the Grade 7 Project, on 945 Jamaican seventh graders (aged 11-14) and their initiation of sexual activity and use of contraception at first intercourse, as well as the knowledge and attitudes that ingluence their behaviors. Using a quasi-experimental design, the study measured the effects of the Grade 7 Project when the nine-month intervention was completed (short term) and one year after that (long term). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the project had no effect on initiation of sexual activity, but it had a positive short-term impact on use of contraception at first intercourse (P=.08); adolescents in the intervention group were more than twice as likely to use contraception. The project also had a positive short-term influence on several aspects of the adolescents' knowledge of and attitudes about sexuality and pregnancy. The modest impact of the Grade 7 Project is encouraging, as school-based sexuality education programs of limited duration rarely have a long-term impact. Moreover, competing socioeconomic and cultural forces in Jamaica encourage early sexuality and parenthood among adolescents. The use of more participatory teaching methods and smaller class sizes might strengthen the Grade 7 Project and enhance its impact
Pese a su número creciente, son pocos los programas de educación sexual y prevención del embarazo que han sido evaluados en los países en desarrollo. Este estudio, realizado entre 1995 y 1997, evalúa en 945 escolares jamaiquinos de 7o grado (11 a 14 años de edad) el impacto de un programa escolar de educación sexual, el denominado "Proyecto de 7o grado", sobre la iniciación de su actividad sexual, el empleo de anticonceptivos durante el primer coito y los conocimientos y actitudes que influyen en sus comportamientos. Utilizando un diseño casi experimental, el estudio midió los efectos del proyecto al final de los nueve meses de intervención (corto plazo) y un año más tarde (largo plazo). El análisis de regresión logística multivariado reveló que el proyecto no tuvo efectos sobre la edad de inicio de la actividad sexual, aunque sí tuvo un impacto positivo a corto plazo sobre el empleo de anticonceptivos en el primer coito (P = 0,08); la probabilidad de utilizar anticonceptivos fue dos veces mayor en los adolescentes del grupo sometido a la intervención educativa. El proyecto también tuvo una influencia positiva a corto plazo sobre varios aspectos de los conocimientos y actitudes de los adolescentes hacia la sexualidad y el embarazo. El moderado impacto del proyecto es alentador, dado que los programas escolares de educación sexual de duración limitada raramente tienen impacto a largo plazo y que, además, en Jamaica existen fuerzas socioeconómicas y culturales antagónicas que alientan la sexualidad temprana y la paternidad entre los adolescentes. El empleo de métodos educativos más participatorios y la reducción del número de alumnos por clase podría fortalecer el "Proyecto de 7o grado" y aumentar su impacto
