Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To systematically review systematic reviews of school-based sexual-health and relationship Education (SHRE) programmes and, thereby, identify interventions and intervention components that promote reductions in risky sexual behaviour among young people.
METHODS: Electronic bibliographies were searched systematically to identify systematic reviews of school-based interventions targeting sexual-health. Results were summarised using a narrative synthesis.
RESULTS: Thirty-seven systematic reviews (summarising 224 primary randomised controlled trials) met our inclusion and quality assessment criteria. In general, these reviews analysed distinct sets of primary studies, and no comprehensive review of available primary studies was identified. Interventions were categorised into five types that segment this review literature. Unfortunately, many reviews reported weak and inconsistent evidence of behaviour change. Nonetheless, integration of review findings generated a list of 32 design, content and implementation characteristics that may enhance effectiveness of school-based, sexual-health interventions. Abstinence-only interventions were found to be ineffective in promoting positive changes in sexual behaviour. By contrast, comprehensive interventions, those specifically targeting HIV prevention, and school-based clinics were found to be effective in improving knowledge and changing attitudes, behaviours and health-relevant outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS: School-based interventions targeting risky sexual behaviour can be effective. Particular design, content and implementation characteristics appear to be associated with greater effectiveness. We recommend consideration of these characteristics by designers of school-based sexual-health interventions.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 33-52 |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| Journal | Health Psychology Review |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 7 Nov 2016 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2017 |
Research Groups and Themes
- NIHR SPHR
Keywords
- Systematic review
- behaviour change
- sexual-health
- school-based
Access to Document
- Full-text PDF (accepted author manuscript)
This is the author accepted manuscript (AAM). The final published version (version of record) is available online via Taylor & Francis at http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17437199.2016.1240625. Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.