16. An Assessment of the Comprehensiveness of Sexual Education Curricula in Rhode Island Public Schools

• Published in: Journal of pediatric & adolescent gynecology Vol. 34; no. 2; p. 245
• Main Authors: Narvaez, Jennifer, Chiem, Adrian, Jude, Gabrielle, Brown, Benjamin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.04.2021
• ISSN: 1083-3188; 1873-4332
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpag.2021.02.020

Though comprehensive sex education has been linked to lower risk health behaviors such as delayed coitarche and improved contraceptive uptake, as well as lower teen pregnancy rates, there has been a trend towards a reduction in adolescents’ receipt of formal sex education. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified 19 Critical Sexual Education Topics, Rhode Island (RI) state law solely mandates that schools provide HIV/AIDs related instruction and include abstinence as the preferred method of preventing pregnancy and STIs, only suggesting that schools may incorporate elements of the law and meaning of consent. This study aims to evaluate the quality of sex education in RI public schools using the standards described by the CDC and the minimum standards under RI state law. This descriptive, cross-sectional study included RI public schools with any enrolled students in grades 6 through 12. We contacted district- and school-level administrators and health instructors from each school, requesting information about their sex education courses. Two independent reviewers evaluated curricular materials from each school for their inclusion of content reflecting the CDC and RI state criteria for high-quality sex education. To assess the comprehensiveness of each school's curriculum, we generated a composite score to reflect the inclusion or exclusion of each topic, with a score of 100 reflecting inclusion of all 19 Critical Sexual Education Topics identified by the CDC. This study was submitted to the Women & Infants IRB and designated exempt as non-human subjects research. A total of 68 schools responded, of 99 that were eligible (a response rate of 69%). The median comprehensiveness score was 47.4 with an interquartile range of 28.9 to 68.4. No school achieved a composite score of 100. Rates of inclusion of specific Critical Sexual Education Topics ranged from 2.9% (how to obtain and how to correctly use a condom) to 91.2% (how to create and sustain healthy and respectful relationships). Of responding schools, 79.4% included HIV/AIDS related instruction, 72.1% promoted abstinence as the preferred method of pregnancy and STI prevention, while only 44.1% incorporated information about consent. A statewide analysis of existing sex education curricula in RI public schools demonstrates that few schools have comprehensive curricula as defined by CDC standards. Most schools are in adherence with state law in their inclusion of information about HIV/AIDS and abstinence, but less than half incorporate information about consent. There is room for improvement in the content delivered to students in grades 6 through 12, and action at both the school and state level may help address this.