Written summary

Empowering Adolescents : An All-Inclusive Strategy to Improve Sexual Health via School-Based

Programs for Sexual Education Introduction:

Adolescence is a critical period in an individual's life which includes exponential changes in their
physical, emotional and social factors. In this period of big transformations, they grapple with
various challenges related to sexual health, such as false information, peer pressure, restricted
resources and social norms. These challenges in their life might lead to a lot of negative
consequences such as unwanted pregnancies, STI’s, mental health issues and gender- based bullying
or violence. Identifying the seriousness of this issue and a development of inclusive sex education
projects within schools is imperative.This programme about sexual health aims to provide teenagers
with accurate information, skills and resources they would need to make responsible and confident
decisions about their sexual health. The problem: Today's Adolescents face a myriad of challenges
related to sexual health. Recent studies have revealed that a lack of a good sexual programme
combined with social norms and peer pressure can lead to dangerous sexual activities which can
have poor health outcomes (Santelli et al., 2017). Moreover the stigma associated with the
discussions about sexual health frequently results in misinformation and a lack of essential resources
and support (UNESCO , 2018). According to some more research, these challenges can worsen by
poor socio economic status, cultural values and geographic location (Guttmacher Institute, 2020).
Adolescents without adequate support and education regarding sexual health may make decisions
which could possibly have negative consequences. The importance of a comprehensive Sex
programme: A comprehensive sexual programme aims beyond the traditional idea of providing a
minimalistic view about sex and relationships and the conventional emphasis on abstinence.
Comprehensive sexual programmes have turned out to be very effective towards changing
adolescent knowledge, attitude towards sexual health (Kirby et al, 2016). By addressing a wide range
of topics such as anatomy, sexual orientation, gender identity, consent, STDs prevention and digital
literacy adolescents will have tools to make responsible decisions. Comprehensive sexual health
programmes also include diversity and inclusivity, making sure that every adolescent is seen, heard
and supported in their journey through sexual health. Our target audience: Teachers, educators,
high school administrators, and others with an interest in the health and education of adolescents
are the intended target of our sex education program. In addition to them, parents, guardians,
medical professionals, community organisations, and legislators are also among our target audience
who play a crucial role in promoting and bolstering sexual education initiatives. Development of our
programme : A detailed analysis of the targets of the target population requirements and their
preferences is the initial step in creating our sex education programs. Gathering information from
various national and international guidelines, as well as advice of various educators, healthcare
professionals and community members, we can build a comprehensive sex education program that
targets to meet the unique needs of adolescents at different stages of development. A wide range of
topics will be covered in our sexual education programme, which are missing currently (Elliott, K. J.,
Dixon, R. M., & Adair, V. A., 1998) such as anatomy, sexual orientation, gender identity, consent, STIs
prevention and digital literacy adolescents. Interactive Pedagogy- The sex education programme will
take into mind a range of teaching approaches because it takes into mind the importance of active
learning and involvement. Group talk, role playing games, guest lectures, multimedia presentations
and practical exercises are a few examples of these. The curriculum will plan to foster critical
thinking, communication skills and self reflection by actively integrating students in the learning
process. Furthermore, our program could add a safe environment to adolescents regarding sexual
health and they can feel more comfortable asking questions and sharing experiences due to
interactive pedagogy. Inclusivity and diversity - Inclusivity and diversity are the main central points of
this programme ensuring that all students feel included and value is essential. The curriculum
includes the various identities and experiences of adolescents, even including those from
underrepresented groups. Groups such as LGBTQ+, teenagers with disabilities, and students from
diverse cultures will be given special attention so they can feel valued and included. This can give rise
to understanding, respect and empathy towards those minority groups. Practicality- The course will
not only focus on the theoretical information about sexual health but also the practical applications
regarding it. Examples of life situations such as role playing (mentioned above) could help them
tackle challenges in the real world, which might make their life easier. Cooperations of stakeholders -
Partnership and cooperation of our range of stakeholders are essential for the success of our sex
education programme. Parents, guardians, healthcare professionals, community organisers, and
legislators are amongst them. If parents and guardians can be actively involved in their adolescents'
sexual health education by providing guidance and support it can be very beneficial for the
adolescent. They can be even more educated from our program, where they can be taught how to
communicate and educate their teenagers regarding sexual health. Healthcare providers are also
essential to this as they are the source of resource and support. Community organisers could lead
this sexual programme to success by promoting the importance of sexual health and offering free
educational opportunities and outreach programmes. The situation right now in Aotearoa : While
there are considerable efforts made to implement sex education in New Zealand, there are still gaps
and problems which need to be given attention. New Zealand is often criticised about its
inconsistency and inadequacy when addressing students' needs and providing for comprehensive
sex education programs. Although there are some schools providing sex education programs others
may provide minimal or outdated information. These inconsistencies can highly be seen in
marginalised and underrepresented groups. Furthermore there is not effective training given to
teachers and education providers to deliver sexual education. Some teachers might even feel taboo
teaching sex related topics, which might lead to reluctance to address these issues in the classroom.
Overall there have been efforts made to improve sexual education in New Zealand but it hasn't
really been much effective and would require a lot of work and attention (Dixon, R., Robertson, J.,
Beliveau, A., Reid, S., Maitland, R., & Dalley, J.2022). We will try to fill these gaps through our sexual
programme and be more beneficial for sex education in Aotearoa. Conclusion: To conclude, our all-
round sex education programme is made to meet the many needs of teenagers in Aotearoa, besides
to fill the gaps and to solve the problems which exist in the existing programmes. We want to create
a full plan on how to spread sexual health education through the help of a wide range of
stakeholders, like legislators, educators, parents, and healthcare professionals. We endeavour to
deliver the information and capabilities teenagers need to make mature choices about their sexual
health through interactive pedagogy, inclusion, realistic applications, and stakeholder collaboration..
Although there have been initiatives to raise the standard of sexual education in New Zealand, our
program aims to expand on existing achievements and significantly influence the movement toward
inclusive, comprehensive sexual education for all teenagers. We think our programme may help
Aotearoa's youth become healthier and better informed with sustained commitment and
cooperation. Background research: Multiple trusted studies and researches online were used for the
idea of Sex education programme (whose sources are mentioned in the references). Santelli, J., et al.
(2017): This research indicated the challenges when scaling up a comprehensive sexuality
programme. It highlights how crucial evidence-based methods are for addressing the requirements
of adolescents with respect to their sexual health. Kirby, D. B., et al. (2016): The study examined the
effect of educating adolescents on sex and HIV in schools and communities and how it affects their
sexual behaviours. UNESCO (2018): This is an international technical guide on sexual education and
offers evidence based ideas towards sex education. Guttmacher Institute (2020): This research
highlighted the urgency of having a comprehensive sex education programme and its effect on
adolescents. (Dixon, R., Robertson, J., Beliveau, A., Reid, S., Maitland, R., & Dalley, J.2022)- This study
provides a point of view from New Zealand secondary school teachers about the challenges they
face while educating adolescents on sexual health. References: Mellins, C. A., Walsh, K., Sarvet, A. L.,
Wall, M., Gilbert, L., Santelli, J. S., Thompson, M., Wilson, P. A., Khan, S., Benson, S., Bah, K.,
Kaufman, K. A., Reardon, L., & Hirsch, J. S. (2017). Sexual assault incidents among college
undergraduates: Prevalence and factors associated with risk. PLOS ONE, 12(11), e0186471.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0186471 R, D., J, R., A, B., S, R., R, M., & J, D. (2022). New
Zealand secondaryschoolteachers’perspectives on teaching Relationships and
SexualityEducation.Ir.canterbury.ac.nz. https://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/items/172e5946-5f09-451c-a2aa-
2979d59be272 Kirby, D. B., Laris, B. A., & Rolleri, L. A. (2007). Sex and HIV Education Programs: Their
Impact on Sexual Behaviors of Young People Throughout the World. Journal of Adolescent Health,
40(3), 206–217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2006.11.143 UNESCO. (2018). International
Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education: An Evidence-informed Approach. Unesco.org.
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000260770 Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance
2021. (n.d.). https://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/2022/2021-STD-Surveillance-Report-
PDF_ARCHIVED-2-1 6-24.pdf Sully, E. (2020, July 10). Adding It Up: Investing in Sexual and
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