Social medicine in human sexuality and reproduction promoting sexual health in high school teenagers

Project leaders

Prof. Paul Enzlin, K.U.Leuven

• Email: paul.enzlin@uz.kuleuven.ac.be

Prof. Julio Jaramillo

• email: jajo@etapaonline.net.ec

Overall Objectives

Overall Academic objective

• Strengthening the capacity to provide research, teaching and extension on sexual education to other responsible players in the field (ministry, school policy…

Overall Developmental objective

• To decrease the prevalence of early pregnancies (<19 y), sexually transmitted disease and abortion

Specific Objectives

Specific Academic objective

• Enhance the capacity for teaching and research in sex education

Specific Developmental objective

• Develop and improves sex education in high school teenagers.

Intermediate Results and activities

1. The current practice about sexual education for high school teenagers in different contexts is described

1.1 To describe a state of the art about the policy regulations, recommendations (legal framework) on sex education from the ministry of education, ministry of health affairs, polity makers of the network of public schools

1.2 Selection and/or design of methods and pilot

1.3 Focus group discussions and/or in depth interviews with parents about the determinants of their vision on sex education in the family context

1.4 A survey study about the policy, curriculum and

2. A descriptive study on the knowledge, attitude and sexual behavior of teenagers and its determinants is performed

2.1 Focus –group discussions and/or in depth interviews and/or survey study and/or peer method research in teenagers focusing on their knowledge, attitudes and behavior in the field of sexuality.

2.1 Selection and/or design of methods and pilot testign.Selection of a (representative) sample of high schools (based on number or region) to incorporate in the study

3. A learning trajectory/curriculum on sexual education for high school teenagers is developed per grade

3.1 Describe the psychological/biological developmental level of high school teenagers per grade

3.2 Select and develop different objectives (according to the level of development), methods and materials to develop a curriculum per grade

3.3 Organize and initiation (covering knowledge, attitude, behavior) to increase the competence of the people that will give the program in the high school

4. The effect of the learning trajectory/curriculum, is being tested in different high schools

4.1 Selection of different high school (mixed, only boys, only girls)

4.2 Select and/or develop a qualitative and/or quantitative instruments to measure the result of the pilot testing of the program

4.3 Data collection, input, management and interpretation

4.4 To adapt/adjust/improve the application and/or content of the program according to the results of the pre-testing

5. The capacity at the Universidad de Cuenca to undertake the research and teaching in the field of sex education is increased

5.1 Select candidates to make a master and/or PhD in the field of human sexuality

5.2 Training staff members in research and teaching on human sexuality

5.3 Qualified human capacity in research and teaching in the field of sexuality in the university of Cuenca is actually increased

5.4 To develop a 'master in human sexuality' program and study the capacity needed to implement it

5.5 Gathering the expertise currently present in different faculties (i.c. medicine, psychology, philosophy, bioethics, sociology, biology, law, gender department) on the field of sexuality/reproduction within the Universidad de Cuenca and establish a working group to discuss the possibilities to start an interdisciplinary master on human sexuality

6. The learning trajectory/curriculum, materials and methods for improving sex education in high school teenagers are disseminated to other actors in the field of sex education

6.1 Local training of teachers

6.2 Public website on the topic

6.3 Create and publish educational materials on the topic e.g. handbook, brochure, CD's, …