Evaluation outcomes of a sex education strategy in high schools of Pavia (Italy).
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to provide process and effectiveness evaluations of a sex education intervention realized with interactive techniques in high schools of Pavia (Italy).


METHODS
Six public high schools, divided into 'treated' and 'control' units, voluntarily joined this mixed-methods study. Only second-year classes were enrolled: treated adolescents followed a sex education course, performed by trained 'near-peer educators' (undergraduate medical students) with interactive techniques. All adolescents compiled an anonymous effectiveness evaluation questionnaire at baseline (pre-test) and 3 months later (post-test). Sexual knowledge and reported behavioural changes were compared between the two groups through linear mixed-effects models. The process was assessed through a satisfaction questionnaire for treated students, monitoring cards for working group members and cards/diaries for educators.


RESULTS
The final sample consisted of 547 treated and 355 control adolescents (mean age = 15.28 ± 0.61 years). Highly significant changes (p < 0.001) from pre-test to post-test, with strong improvements of treated adolescents, were evident for all knowledge items. No significant changes for behavioural items were reported. Process evaluation showed positive results in adolescents' satisfaction, highlighting the need for more youth gathering places. Working group members and educators generally provided positive evaluations, although difficult communication was perceived.


CONCLUSIONS
The intervention was effective in improving adolescents' sexual knowledge. The present work highlighted that in Italy sex education in adolescence is still neglected: this could encourage misinformation and health-risk behaviour. Young people perceive the need for a serious health-promoting action in which they could play an active role, spreading educational messages with organized interactive methods.
Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, Unit of Hygiene, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Emanuela
E
Benni
Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, Section of Biostatistics, Neurophysiology and Psychiatry, Unit of Medical Statistics and Computational Genomics, Clinical Epidemiology and Health Planning Laboratory, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy sara.sacco01@universitadipavia.it.
Sara
S
Sacco
Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Pavia, Italy SISM (Segretariato Italiano Studenti Medicina [Italian medical students' secretariat]), Local Office of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Leonardo
L
Bianchi
Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Pavia, Italy SISM (Segretariato Italiano Studenti Medicina [Italian medical students' secretariat]), Local Office of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Roberto
R
Carrara
Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Pavia, Italy SISM (Segretariato Italiano Studenti Medicina [Italian medical students' secretariat]), Local Office of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Chiara
C
Zanini
Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, Section of Biostatistics, Neurophysiology and Psychiatry, Unit of Medical Statistics and Computational Genomics, Clinical Epidemiology and Health Planning Laboratory, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Mario
M
Comelli
Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, Unit of Hygiene, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Maria Teresa
MT
Tenconi
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012736:Sex Education / Q000379:methods*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
education; education settings; health promotion; prevention; reproductive health; schools