Randomized Evaluation of a Multi-Component, Rights-Based Sexuality Education Initiative for High School Students

Participants receive the 12-session Sexuality Education Initiative (SEI) classroom curriculum. The SEI classroom curriculum covers anatomy, abstinence, contraception and protection, STIs and HIV/AIDS, media messages, gender, relationships, rights and responsibilities, pregnancy, sexuality, peer pressure, negotiation and coercion, and decision making. These sessions are delivered over a two-month period. Each curriculum session is about 45 minutes in length.

Participants receive the 3-session basic control curriculum. The control curriculum includes 3 sessions on sexually transmitted infections, anatomy and birth control delivered over a two- or three-week period. Each curriculum session is about 45 minutes in length.

Participants receive SEI classroom curriculum and all three school wide components. The peer education/advocacy component recruits, trains and supervises students through an after-school leadership program to serve as resources to peers, organize health events, and refer students to school-based clinic services. The parent education component provides sessions for parents of students, covering reproductive health, teen pregnancy, and parent-teen communication, together with a parent education booklet for widespread use. The clinical services linkages includes health services on campus, including pregnancy/STI testing, contraceptive consultation and prescriptions, condom distribution, counseling, and referrals. It includes training for teachers and staff to distribute condoms as needed.

Participants receive control classroom curriculum and one of the three school wide components, the clinical services linkages. This component includes health services on campus for students, including pregnancy and STI testing, contraceptive consultation and prescriptions, condom distribution, counseling, and referrals. It also includes training for teachers and school staff to distribute condoms to students as needed.