Makarevich, Hannah
(2020)
Sexuality Education: A Comprehensive Review and Policy Recommendation.
Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
The goal of this paper is to evaluate existing data around current sexuality education curricula, adolescent reproductive statistics, and sexually transmitted infection rates. Sexual health behaviors, such as contraceptive use, relationship behavior, and relationship violence, are also researched. The United States (US) has the highest rates of both teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection among all developed nations. Current literature shows that abstinence-only education programs in the US do not have positive effects on sexual health outcomes of adolescents. Through this literature review, we found that there are vast differences in sexuality education requirements across the states, affecting the public health of millions of school aged students nationwide. States that do not require comprehensive sexuality education have poorer sexual health outcomes, suggesting that American adolescents could benefit from adjustments to the current sexuality education policies. With the current level of sexually transmitted infections and adolescent pregnancies, we must identify effective curricula to increase knowledge of evidence-based sexuality education and find successful models of implementation for the United States. This paper recommends certain policy changes to address the sexual health outcomes and improve overall reproductive health, including repealing and replacing Title V, Section 510 funding or reallocating Title V funding in conjunction with implementing state-specific comprehensive sexuality education program mandates.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| ETD Committee: |
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| Date: |
30 July 2020 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
14 April 2020 |
| Approval Date: |
30 July 2020 |
| Submission Date: |
30 March 2020 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Number of Pages: |
67 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Public Health > Behavioral and Community Health Sciences |
| Degree: |
MPH - Master of Public Health |
| Thesis Type: |
Master's Thesis |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
sexuality, sexuality education, comprehensive, comprehensive sexuality education, sex education, sex ed, Title V, Title V Section 510, mandate, HIV, STD, STI, teenage pregnancy, teen pregnancy, sexual health, sexual health outcomes |
| Date Deposited: |
30 Jul 2020 17:19 |
| Last Modified: |
30 Jul 2020 17:19 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/38447 |
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