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Community-Level Successes and Challenges to Implementing Adolescent Sex Education Programs

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Abstract

Best practices for adolescent sex education recommend science-based approaches. However, little is known about the capacity and needs of organizations who implement sex education programs on the local level. The purpose of this research was to describe successes and challenges of community organizations in implementing science-based sex education. Using qualitative methods, we interviewed program directors and educators in 17 state-funded adolescent pregnancy prevention/sex education programs as part of a larger mixed methods evaluation. Semi-structured interviews focused on success and challenges faced in implementing science-based approaches to program design, implementation and evaluation. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed using a thematic approach. Grantees included a range of programs, from short programs on puberty and HIV for late elementary students, to skills-based curricular sex education programs for high schools, to year-long youth development programs. Key aspects of curricular choice included meeting the needs of the population, and working within time constraints of schools and other community partners. Populations presenting specific challenges included rural youth, youth in juvenile justice facilities, and working with Indiana’s growing Latino population. Programs self-developing curricula described challenges related to assessment and evaluation of impact. Programs using commercial curricula described challenges related to curricular selection and adaptation, in particularly shortening curricula, and adapting to different cultural or social groups. A remarkable degree of innovation was observed. The use of qualitative methods permitted the identification of key challenges and successes in a state-sponsored small grants program. Information can be used to enhance program capacity and quality.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by NIH (K23-HD049444-01A2) . These data were originally presented as a poster at the Pediatric Academic Societies and Asian Society for Pediatric Research Joint Meeting, Honolulu, May 2008. The authors thank the Indiana State Department of Health for their support of program evaluation. The information in this paper does not necessarily represent the views of the Indiana State Department of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, 410 West 10th Street, HS1001, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA

    Mary A. Ott, Maura Rouse, Jamie Resseguie & Hannah Smith

  2. Indiana State Department of Health, 2 N. Meridian St., Section 8C, Indianapolis, IN, 46204, USA

    Stephanie Woodcox

Authors
  1. Mary A. Ott
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  2. Maura Rouse
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  3. Jamie Resseguie
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  4. Hannah Smith
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  5. Stephanie Woodcox
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Correspondence to Mary A. Ott.

Appendix A

Appendix A

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Table 2 Interview guide
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Ott, M.A., Rouse, M., Resseguie, J. et al. Community-Level Successes and Challenges to Implementing Adolescent Sex Education Programs. Matern Child Health J 15, 169–177 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-010-0574-y

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