title: Utilizing the SIECUS Guidelines to assess sexuality education in one state: content scope and importance.
abstract: Comprehensive sexuality education programs, advocated as the most effective means of promoting sexual health for youth, include a broad range of sexuality topics taught throughout the school years as a part of comprehensive health education. Programs must include not only the negative consequences of sexual behavior, but content that cultivates a positive view of sexuality as well. This study assessed the scope of sexuality education topics taught, using the SIECUS Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education: Kindergarten--12th Grade, and rated importance of these topics, by public high school teachers within a state that mandates sexuality education. The majority of the 261 teachers responding to the survey reported they taught most of the topics recommended by the Guidelines. They also rated most Guidelines' topics as "important" to teach. However, numerous teachers omitted topics crucial to comprehensive sexuality education. The relationship between teacher ratings of importance and what was taught, and implications for future research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Health Science, University of North Florida, Jacksonville 32224, USA. mmoore@unf.edu
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Rienzo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012106:Research; D012736:Sex Education / Q000592:standards; D019529:Sexuality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching