What This Means
This research systematically reviewed all available self-report tools designed to measure sexual health literacy (the ability to find, understand, and use sexual health information) in young people aged 10–19. After searching nine scientific databases and screening over 18,000 records, the researchers identified 83 studies covering 68 different measurement tools. They then evaluated both what aspects of sexual health literacy each tool measured and how rigorously each tool was developed, using internationally recognized quality standards called COSMIN criteria.
The findings reveal that while many tools exist, most fall short in two important ways. First, they do not fully cover all the dimensions of sexual health literacy as defined by the World Health Organization—the most commonly addressed skills were appraising and applying sexual health information, while other important dimensions were less frequently included. Second, the development quality of most tools was rated as inadequate or doubtful, largely because the young people these tools are meant to measure were not sufficiently involved in creating them, and the tools were not tested thoroughly enough before being used in research.
This research suggests that the field lacks a single, well-designed, comprehensive tool for measuring sexual health literacy in adolescents. Without such a tool, it is difficult to compare results across different studies or to accurately evaluate whether sexual health education programs are working. The authors call for the development of new, more rigorous measurement instruments that actively involve adolescents in the design process and undergo thorough testing—steps that would ultimately lead to better understanding of, and support for, adolescent sexual health.