The aim of this study is to survey on the national level the provision and content of sex education at lower secondary stage schools and the level of sexual knowledge in the very same schools with the mean of the sexual health quiz among 8-grade students. The objective is to look for the ideal type of sex education provision. The provision of sex education in the lower secondary stage schools (grades 7-9) was studied in Finland in 1996 and this survey was replicated in spring 2006. In both times the response rate was 70%. The responses were received from 421 (1996) and 518 (2006) schools.
A nationwide study was performed in 2000 in the form of a quiz among 8-grade students (mean age 14.8 years). 401 schools and 30241 students returned the papers. In 2006 the similar quiz was participated by 462 schools and 33819 students. Results The pupils’ knowledge level of sexual health had improved in six years. 69 % of questions were answered right in 2006. The same percentage was 66 in the first research in 2000. The total knowledge score mean was in 2006 64,3 out of 76 items. In the poorest school a total of points was 29,4. Boys had both times much more limited knowledge than girls. By doing a comparison between the results of the quiz (2006) and the survey conducted among the teachers (2006), the further analysis will be presented with the aim to show what kind of sex education produces the best level of knowledge. Conclusions These new findings will be discussed based on the results of the different types of sex education and sexual health knowledge in these schools. The role of teachers and health education will be discussed more into detail.
Conflict of Interest: None disclosed
Financial Support/Funding: The Ministry Of Social Affairs And Health In Finland
Recorded in Sydney Australia, April 2007
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