School sex education: can DHAs help to bridge the divide between theory and practice?

Abstract

A joint Health Authority/University survey of school sex education was carried out in Southampton in 1992/3, to which 94 per cent of schools replied. The survey was part of a series of initiatives planned in response to continuing high local rates of abortions to teenagers. Questionnaires were sent to all middle (8-12 years), first and middle (5-12 years) and secondary maintained schools within the Health District. Independent schools, both preparatory and secondary, were also included. Questions were based on a literature review of official guidance on the content and organisation of school sex education programmes. Schools were also asked about their use of District Health Authority (DHA) services for sex education. Ninety-three per cent of schools had implemented the recom mendation to appoint designated teachers for sex education, while the requirement for schools to have policies for sex education had been met by 72 per cent of respondents. Approximately three-quarters of schools had included written objectives within their policies. Demands arising from implementation of the national curriculum and lack of suitably trained staff were the main reasons given for not being able to develop sex education programmes in line with recommendations. Only a quarter of teachers replying to the survey had attended a course in health education in the previous two years. Less than a fifth of schools had consulted with related feeder/referral schools about the content or organisation of sex education, and a third had not been in contact with parents within the previous two years, to discuss either the planning or content of sex education. Schools were generally enthusiastic about help they had received from DHA services for sex education, but two-thirds wanted greater DHA input into the planning of programmes. Three-quarters of maintained secondary schools wanted more help from family planning nurses in the future.