In order to make good decisions about their sexual and reproductive health, young people need reliable information, an opportunity to develop values and attitudes consistent with health goals, and the skills to behave consistently with their knowledge and values. Sexuality and family life education, including HIV education, helps prepare young people to make good choices as they transition to adulthood. Organized education about sex and HIV can take place in schools, in out-of-school and faith-based programs, in programs for parents, and through peer education activities.
Recent research  (56 pages, 572 KB) has confirmed and expanded upon earlier findings about the positive impact of curriculum-based reproductive health and HIV education for young people. About two-thirds of evaluated programs found a significant positive impact on one or more of the sexual behaviors or outcomes measured, such as delayed sexual initiation and reduced number of partners. In almost all cases, the interventions did not lead to earlier or increased sexual activity.
Even so, such programs are often controversial because many believe that sexuality is a private matter for families and that talking about it in schools or other settings can lead to young people being more sexually active. Other challenges to implementing high-quality programs include inadequate teacher training and varying availability of funds.
To address disparities in the quality of school-based programs, a group of global experts in youth sexual and reproductive health developed a set of standards (65 pages, 225 KB) for use by program managers, educators, curriculum development specialists, and program evaluators.
Recommended Resources
Curricula
Curricula and Other Educational Materials on Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health (11 pages, 105 KB)
This list of high-quality adult-led and youth-led curricula designed to improve youth sexual and reproductive health is now available on the Interagency Youth Working Group website. Published by internationally recognized global health or academic organizations, all materials are available online or by mail at minimal cost. While culturally adaptable and appropriate for low-resource settings, the curricula are specific, structured, targeted, and medically accurate. (Family Health International, 2010)
Compilation of HIV/AIDS Life Skills Teaching, Training, and Learning materials
This Web site has links to more than 20 resources from UN organizations and more. (UNICEF)
Making Proud Choices! A Safer Sex Curriculum
This curriculum includes eight, one-hour modules that can be delivered to small groups of youth by one adult facilitator or two peer facilitators. They can be divided over two days if implemented out of school. They focus on delaying the initiation of sex, reducing the frequency of sex, and increasing condom use. Based on social cognitive theory, theory of reasoned action, theory of planned behavior, and elicitation research, the curriculum covers abstinence, condom use to reduce risk of STIs and pregnancy, HIV/STI knowledge, hedonistic beliefs about condom use, skills and self-efficacy of condom use, and condom negotiation. In a randomized trial among African-Americans in the United States, the curriculum reduced the frequency of sex and increased condom use. (Select Media)
Life Planning Education: A Youth Development Program
This curricula has 15 chapters on sexuality, relationships, health, violence prevention, community responsibility, skills-building, values, self-esteem, parenting, employment preparation, and reducing sexual risk. It is packed with interactive exercises, supplemental resources, participant handouts, and a complete guide to implementation. It is intended for use with youth aged 13-18 years old, in schools and other settings for sexuality/life skills education, HIV prevention education, and pregnancy prevention. Chapters can be downloaded separately. (Advocates for Youth, 1995 -- in revision, 2009)
Reports and Briefs
It Works! Communication for HIV Prevention and Social Change in Adolescents: A Mid-Term Review (80 pages)
This report is a mid-term review of the Straight Talk Foundation's work on improving the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents in Uganda. It is primarily a qualitative assessment of progress made toward meeting the program's objectives and is informative for colleagues implementing similar programs in other contexts. (Straight Talk Foundation and CRC, 2009)
School-Based Reproductive Health and HIV Education Programs — An Effective Intervention (4 pages, 182 KB)
This brief reviews recent research and program evaluations. It emphasizes that evaluations show that well-designed programs work, but implementation issues such as teacher training and cultural sensitivities remain challenging. (Family Health International, 2007)
Impact of Sex and HIV Education Programs on Sexual Behaviors of Youth in Developing and Developed Countries (56 pages, 572 KB)
This paper discusses findings from a review of 83 evaluations of sex and HIV education programs. The analysis found substantial positive impact on sexual behaviors in more than two-thirds of the evaluations and identified 17 characteristics of the most effective curricula used in the programs evaluated. More information on this review is available, including links to data sheets on each of the evaluations. (Family Health International/YouthNet, 2005)
Sexuality Education in Schools: The International Experience and Implications for Nigeria (23 pages, 161 KB)
This paper reviews the international experience and its implications for Nigeria, emphasizing that comprehensive sexuality education is effective but also controversial. Despite challenges in taking such projects to a national scale, even conservative countries have moved forward. Programs need to implement a sound curriculum and adequately train and support teachers and students, while adapting the approach to local cultures, language, and religions. (POLICY Project, 2004)
Tools
International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education: An Evidence-Informed Approach for Schools, Teachers and Health Educators
Volume I (66 pages, 2.9 MB)
Volume II (65 pages, 2 MB)
Based on a rigorous and current review of evidence on sexuality education programs, this guide is aimed at decision makers and professionals in the education and health sectors. It has been produced to help education, health, and other relevant authorities develop and implement school-based sexuality education programs and materials. Volume I focuses on the rationale for sexuality education and provides sound technical advice on characteristics of effective programs. A companion document, (Volume II) focuses on the topics and learning objectives to be covered in a "basic minimum package" on sexuality education for children and young people from 5 to 18+ years of age and includes a bibliography of useful resources. The guide is relevant not only to those countries most affected by HIV and AIDS, but also to those facing low prevalence and concentrated epidemics. (UNESCO, 2009)
Evidence and Rights-based Planning and Support Tool for SRHR/HIV Prevention Interventions for Young People (72 pages, 927 KB)
Many organizations want to improve young people's quality of life and health but do not know how to develop effective programs. Experience and evidence gained from work done all over the world show what elements contribute to quality. This tool provides the most important evidence and provides a plan for organizations on how to best design and evaluate education programs on sexual and reproductive health rights for young people. (Stop AIDS Now, World Population Foundation, 2009)
Auntie Stella Activity Cards
Based on findings from participatory research with 13- to 17-year-olds in four rural Zambian schools, these activity cards were developed to answer real questions from the field. Each of the 33 cards has a letter from a young person on an adolescent health topic. The reader can interact to find out Auntie Stella's response and is prompted to recall the lesson learned and think about related topics.
Standards for Curriculum-Based Reproductive Health and HIV Education Programs (65 pages, 225 KB)
This document describes 24 standards for use in adapting or developing such curricula in developing countries, grouped in three sections: development and adaptation, content, and implementation. It includes tips on using the standards with examples and 12 pages of annotated resources. (Family Health International/YouthNet, 2006)
Quality Education and HIV&AIDS (43 pages, 4.5 MB)
This publication from the UNAIDS Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT) on Education, presents a framework for quality education that demonstrates how education systems can and must change in their analysis and conduct in relation to HIV and AIDS. It summarizes applications of how education has responded to the pandemic from a quality perspective and promotes practical and strategic actions in support of quality education. Print copies are available free of charge and can be ordered by writing to info-iatt@unesco.org. (UNAIDS IATT, 2006)
Skills for Health: The WHO Information Series on School Health, Document 9 (90 pages, 413 KB)
Part of the FRESH framework (Focusing Resources on Effective School Health) supported by multiple UN agencies, this report is designed to help implement quality skills-based health education on a national scale worldwide. It emphasizes the role of schools but is relevant to out-of-school settings. Chapters cover theories and principles, evaluation evidence and lessons learned, priority actions for quality and scale, and planning and evaluation issues, with useful appendices on selected interventions, resources, and documents. (WHO, 2003)
Tips for Developing Life Skills Curricula for HIV Prevention Among African Youth: A Synthesis of Emerging Lessons (29 pages, 558 KB)
This synthesis of lessons learned provides practical guidelines for those planning, implementing, or strengthening life skills curricula for young people in sub-Saharan Africa. (USAID Office of Sustainable Development, Bureau for Africa, 2002)
Developmentally Based Interventions and Strategies: Promoting Reproductive Health and Reducing Risk among Adolescents (42 pages, 458 KB)
This tool provides information on the stages of adolescent development (under 10, 10–14, 15–19, and 20–24 years old) and appropriate adolescent sexual and reproductive health programming. It also includes a tool to help guide activity or project development based on information about developmental stages and strategies. (FOCUS on Young Adults, 2001)
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