Improving sexual health for young people: making sexuality education a priority

Janet Helmer, Kate Senior, Belinda Davison, Andrew Vodic

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

63 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

How well do young people understand their developing sexuality and what this means? This paper reports on findings from the Our Lives: Culture, Context and Risk project, which investigated sexual behaviour and decision-making in the context of the everyday life experience and aspirations of Indigenous and non-Indigenous young people (16–25 years) in the Northern Territory, Western Australia and in South Australia. Using qualitative data, this paper focuses on what participating young people thought was necessary to improve the quality of sexuality education. Participants suggest that current forms of sexuality education are too clinical, didactic and unengaging, and are missing in relevant content. Young people requested more information on relationships, first sexual experiences and negotiating condom use. These requests indicate that young people realise that they need more knowledge in order to have healthy relationships, which conflicts with the popular belief that providing young people with open, honest information around sex will encourage them to have sex or increase sexual risk taking. Making sexuality education more of a priority and listening to the needs of young people could be a positive step towards improving sexual health and well-being.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)158-171
Number of pages14
JournalSex Education
Volume15
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 1 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Indigenous Australians
  • perceived needs
  • sexuality education
  • young people

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Education
  • Social Sciences (miscellaneous)

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