title: Sexuality and HIV Education in Charter Schools: An Exploratory Study With Principals in San Diego County, California.
abstract: Schools can address critical sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues among youth. However, little is known about SRH education being implemented in charter schools. Thus, our purpose was to explore implementation of SRH education in charter schools.
  
  
  
  Using purposive sampling, semistructured telephone interviews were conducted with 20 charter school principals in San Diego County, California. Questions were guided by the Kaiser Family Foundation National Survey of Public Secondary School Principals. Analyses followed a case-oriented approach, examining aspects within each case (ie, a principal), and then a comparative analysis of a small number of cases (ie, all principals).
  
  
  
  Overall, 17 principals acknowledged offering sexuality education in the previous 2 years. Over half of these schools had provided content on: sexually transmitted diseases/human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (STDs/HIV/AIDS), reproduction/pregnancy/birth, pregnancy prevention methods, delaying sex, and managing sexual pressure. Condom use, sexual assault, sexual orientation, talking with partners about STD/pregnancy prevention, talking with parents about relationships/sex, and using/where to get contraception were less commonly taught. Abortion was not addressed. When asked the grade they would assign to their schools' sexuality/HIV instruction, principals assigned 1 A, 7 Bs, 7 Cs, and 1 D.
  
  
  
  Consistency between our findings and what has been reported elsewhere varies. As charter schools often have greater curricular flexibility than traditional schools, this study provides unique preliminary data to inform future innovative, or strengthen existing, SRH programming.
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-4162.
authors.forename: Eric R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Walsh-Buhi
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-4162.
authors.forename: Brandon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dao
authors.affiliation: HIV Department, San Ysidro Health Center, San Diego, CA 92154.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salgin
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Leadership, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-1190.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.affiliation: Sexual Health Education Program, San Diego Unified School District, San Diego, CA 92103.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Leadership, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-1190.
authors.forename: Doug
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.affiliation: Academy for Professional Excellence, San Diego State University, School of Social Work, San Diego, CA 92120.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walsh-Buhi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002140:California; D002648:Child; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D060728:Reproductive Health; D012736:Sex Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000517:prevention & control; D019529:Sexuality; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control
keywords: HIV; adolescents; charter schools; school-based sex education; youth