ABSTRACT

Adolescents are future of country. Their health contributes significantly to the health
indicators. Adolescence is phase of rapid and multidimensional growth causing
physical and psychological changes. Their sexual growth is not only dependent on the
changes but to great extent on attitude towards them. Accurate knowledge ensures
healthy attitudes. Sexuality education providing this knowledge is known preventive
tool against ignorance, misinformation, unhealthy attitudes and risk taking behavior of
adolescents. But cultural inhibitions have great negative impact on availability of such
education. To protect their future, it is necessary to go beyond controversies and
provide such education to adolescents which they deserve. Formal structured
curriculum will be more effective and necessary to meet challenges posed to growing
children in today’s scenario.

To fulfill this need, a culturally appropriate structured curriculum is proposed to

provide holistic sexuality education. To decide the thrust areas of the module to be
developed,404 questions collected from adolescents, knowledge survey was given to
302 students and human figure activity was given to 365 students to understand their
perception of body image. Collected data was analyzed which revealed inadequacy of
basic knowledge about structure and function of human body, ill effects of risky
behavior. Negative body image and emotions attached with pubertal changes found to
be major concern in children, more so in girls. This attitude of adolescents towards
pubertal changes need priority attention in our cultureThe perspective of 102 parents
and 132 teachers were also taken in to account. Parents were reluctant for open
discussion but had positive views for sexuality education. Teachers, mostly because
of lack of required communication skills, lack of knowledge of reproductive system
and because of their own attitudes were not comfortable to impart the sexuality
education even after accepting its importance. There is need to empower them.

The module was prepared based on this evidence, referring various guidelines and
using insight obtained during sessions conducted so far. It has ten topics covering
physical, psychological and social aspects of sexual health. Participatory methods
were used to ensure experiential learning during module delivery.

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 The module was evaluated on three aspects: contents, delivery and short term
outcomes with help of pre-test, post-test and feedback. 72 students of 9th standard
completed pre as well as post-test. 76 participants gave structured feedback and out of
them, 42 also gave open feedback. There was significant increase in mean attitude
score and mean knowledge score of participants (20% and 17% respectively)
irrespective of type of school and gender. 97% said they received new information,
83% appreciated way of communication,52% said it was very useful. 87% received
the session without discomfort indicating effectiveness of curriculum formulated.

Thus the development and evaluation of an effective curriculum (module) for

sexuality education in adolescents was completed, which is age and culture
appropriate hence well received.

Key words: Holistic sexuality education, Body image, Attitude of adolescents

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