Spolna vzgoja v srednjih šolah : stališča ljubljanskih srednješolcev do nekaterih vprašanj o spolnosti
Sex education in secondary schools : the stance of secondary schools students from Ljubljana on some sex-related issues

slovenian

2013

volume 47, issue 4

adolescents   health education   research   sex   sexual intercourse   sexual violence

Zbornica zdravstvene in babiške nege Slovenije - Zveza strokovnih društev medicinskih sester, babic in zdravstvenih tehnikov Slovenije
(Obvezni izvod spletne publikacije)

Introduction: The research hitherto conducted among Slovenian secondary school students focused primarily on their sex-related behaviours and heightened the need for modernizing the existing sex education contents and programmes. The purpose of the present study was to obtain the data on the students' attitudes and opinions on sex education and their recognition of sexual harassment. These findings may have important implications for the development of new programmes which would meet the needs of the present population. Methods: In a cross-sectional research study the data were collected through a structured questionnaire. The sample was composed of randomly selected first and third-year students of secondary schools in Ljubljana (n = 96). The survey was conducted in the presence of the interviewer in the classrooms, in May 2011. The anonymity of the respondents was ensured. The questionnaire included items regarding the students' opinionson the content and organization of sex education and a scale of their beliefs of what constitutes sexual harassment. The chi-square test (p = 0.05) was used for the analysis of data. Results: A good half of the first-year students (56.9 %) and nearly one third of the third-year students (28.9 %) believe that sex education should be a compulsory part of the secondary curriculum (p = 0.024). The students defined sexual harassment as telling lies or spreading rumors about a person's personal sex life (53.7 %), unwantedpressure for sexual favors (60.4 %), unwanted deliberate touching (69.8 %), unwanted sexual looks (14.7 %) and whistling at someone (8.4 %). Discussion and conclusion: According to the results obtained, further research on the current topic is recommended, focusing on systematic sexual education and monitoring. The results also provide a solid foundation for future research and modernization of health education in secondary schools.

08.05.2014