Inclusion of Sexual Health Education for the Wellbeing and Dignity of Secondary School Children: An Indian Rural Perspective

Abstract

The study investigates students’ perspectives on incorporating sexual health education into the curriculum of secondary schools in rural Bangalore. Focused on assessing how such education impacts students’ physical and psychological well-being, confidence, and ability to make informed decisions, the research collected data from 981 students across 6th to 10th grades. A structured questionnaire, measured on a five-point Likert scale, explored students’ perceptions of sexual health education and its outcomes. After a meticulous data cleaning process, which included outlier removal, the study utilized a final sample of 900 students. IBM SPSS 25 and AMOS 25 facilitated the statistical analysis. The findings underscore the significant positive effect of sexual health education on students’ confidence levels. It highlights how this form of education aids in maintaining personal hygiene and fosters balanced decision-making skills among students. The study’s results advocate for the implementation of sexual health education in schools, emphasizing its role in enhancing student wellbeing and confidence. Additionally, it contributes to defining the scope and framework of a sexual health education curriculum from the students’ perspective in rural Bangalore schools, aligning educational objectives with the actual needs and perceptions of the student body.