The Impact of a school-based gender-sensitive sexuality education program on adolescents’ sexual knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy in Northwest China

The purposes of the study was evaluate the impact of a school-based gender-sensitive sexuality education program on adolescents’ sex-related knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy in Lanzhou, northwest China. We used data (N = 1,126) from a quasi-experimental intervention research conducted among students in four high schools. Gender-sensitive sexuality education was provided to all 10th grade students in the intervention group from October 2011 to June 2012. 1222 students enrolled at baseline, and 94.2% of them were followed up at posttest.
Results showed that students in the intervention group had better knowledge and less permissive attitudes toward sexual double standards than those in the control group. Boys in the intervention group also had less stereotypical attitudes toward gender roles than those in the control group. Girls in the intervention group showed significantly more increase in self-efficacy related to sexual decision-making skills relative to those in the control group. The findings demonstrated that gender-sensitive, critical thinking sexuality education approach has advantages over mainstream medical-oriented and abstinence sex education. The study has important implications for developing more effective intervention programs to improve adolescent’s sexual and reproductive well-being.