title: Sexuality Education Websites for Adolescents: A Framework-Based Content Analysis.
abstract: The web has unique potential for adolescents seeking comprehensive sexual health information. As such, it is important to understand the nature, scope, and readability of the content and messaging provided by sexuality educational websites. We conducted a content analysis of 14 sexuality education websites for adolescents, based on the 7 essential components (sexual and reproductive health and HIV, relationships, sexual rights and sexual citizenship, pleasure, violence, diversity, and gender) of the International Planned Parenthood Framework for Comprehensive Sexuality Education. A majority of content across all sites focused on sexual and reproductive health and HIV, particularly pregnancy and STI prevention, and other information about STIs and HIV. No other topic comprised more than 10% of content coverage across a majority of sites. The authors found little discussion of gender issues, sexual rights, sexual diversity, or sexual violence. Most sites provided brief references to sexual pleasure, generally moderated with cautionary words. Language used implied a heterosexual female audience. Reading levels for most sites were above the 9th-grade level, with several at the college level. These findings have implications for enhancing online sexuality education and broadening the coverage of essential topics.
authors.affiliation: a Center for Research on Adolescent Health and Development , Public Health Institute , Oakland , California , USA.
authors.forename: Sara S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.affiliation: a Center for Research on Adolescent Health and Development , Public Health Institute , Oakland , California , USA.
authors.forename: Jessica S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: a Center for Research on Adolescent Health and Development , Public Health Institute , Oakland , California , USA.
authors.forename: M Summer
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Starling
authors.affiliation: a Center for Research on Adolescent Health and Development , Public Health Institute , Oakland , California , USA.
authors.forename: Aubrey G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Daquiz
authors.affiliation: b Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences , Montclair State University , Montclair , New Jersey , USA.
authors.forename: Eva S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Goldfarb
authors.affiliation: a Center for Research on Adolescent Health and Development , Public Health Institute , Oakland , California , USA.
authors.forename: Kimberly C R
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: a Center for Research on Adolescent Health and Development , Public Health Institute , Oakland , California , USA.|c School of Public Health , University of California, Berkeley , Berkeley , California , USA.
authors.forename: Norman A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Constantine
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D032882:Comprehension; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D012736:Sex Education