Sexual health education significantly reduced sexual myths and increased sexual health literacy levels among university students, with the proportion having sufficient knowledge about sexuality rising from 49% moderate knowledge before training to 51% sufficient knowledge after training.
Before sexual health education, approximately half of students had only moderate knowledge about sexuality.
After sexual health education, more than half of students were found to have sufficient knowledge about sexuality.
Sexual health education had an effect on both sexual myths and sexual health literacy among university students.
The authors recommend that age-appropriate sexual health education be provided by trained individuals in educational institutions to reduce sexual myths and increase sexual health literacy.
This research suggests that providing sexual health education to university students can improve their knowledge about sexuality and reduce belief in sexual myths. The study followed 51 health services vocational students at a Turkish university, measuring their sexual knowledge and literacy both before and after receiving sexual health education. Before the training, about half the students had only moderate knowledge about sexuality, and after the training, slightly more than half had sufficient knowledge. The study used established measurement tools — a Sexual Myths Scale and a Sexual Health Literacy Scale — to track changes in students' understanding. The quasi-experimental design means students were measured at two time points around an educational intervention, allowing researchers to compare pre- and post-education outcomes. While the improvement in the proportion of students with sufficient knowledge was modest (moving from 49% with moderate knowledge to 51% with sufficient knowledge), the study indicates that structured education can move the needle on sexual health understanding. This research suggests that incorporating sexual health education into university curricula — delivered by trained educators and tailored to the age group — could be a practical strategy for improving young adults' sexual health literacy and correcting misconceptions. The findings are relevant to educators, public health professionals, and university administrators considering how to address gaps in students' sexual health knowledge.
Sürmeli Y, Yıldırım C, Yüzbaşıoğlu &, Güldağ &. (2024). The effect of sexual health education on sexual myths and sexual health literacy among University students.. African journal of reproductive health. https://doi.org/10.29063/ajrh2024/v28i10.11