1599 CJHS 23.3_03_McKay 159..166

This study examined the opinions and attitudes of Ontario parents regarding school-based sexual health education (SHE). Results are based on surveys from 1002 parents with children attending publically funded elementary or secondary schools in Ontario, Canada. A large majority (87%) of parents strongly agreed or agreed that SHE should be provided in school and 84% believed that SHE should start by middle school. All 13 sexual health topics posed to parents were rated as important or very important to teach. These topics included puberty, abstinence, methods of contraception, sexually transmitted infections, skills for healthy relationships, communication skills, sexual orientation, and media literacy. Parents rated themselves, doctors and nurses, and the school system as the most competent sources of SHE. Parents also indicated that it is important for their children to learn from an up-to-date SHE curriculum. There were some small differences in the attitudes of mothers and fathers; however, parents with children in public and separate Catholic schools did not significantly differ in their support for SHE in the schools. This study confirms past research from across Canada indicating that there is strong and sustained parental support for broadly-based SHE in the schools.

[1]  M. Lohan,et al.  Parents' constructions of communication with their children about safer sex. , 2013, Journal of clinical nursing.

[2]  E. Byers,et al.  Factors affecting Canadian teachers' willingness to teach sexual health education , 2011 .

[3]  B. J. Rye,et al.  Satisfaction with School-Based Sexual Health Education in a Sample of University Students Recently Graduated from Ontario High Schools , 2009 .

[4]  E. Byers,et al.  Parents’ Reports of Sexual Communication With Children in Kindergarten to Grade 8 , 2008 .

[5]  A. Mckay,et al.  School-based and school-linked sexual health education and promotion in Canada. , 2004, Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology Canada : JOGC = Journal d'obstetrique et gynecologie du Canada : JOGC.

[6]  Angela D. Weaver,et al.  Sexual health education: attitudes knowledge and comfort of teachers in New Brunswick schools. , 2004 .

[7]  J. Tighe.  Handbook for Conducting Research on Human Sexuality , 2004 .

[8]  E. Byers,et al.  Sexual Health Education at School and at Home: Attitudes and Experiences of New Brunswick Parents , 2002 .

[9]  E. Byers,et al.  New Brunswick Parents' Ideas About Sexual Health Education , 2001 .

[10]  M. Wiederman.  Volunteer bias in sexuality research using college student participants , 1999 .

[11]  P. Holowaty,et al.  Parents' Opinions and Attitudes towards Sexuality Education in the Schools , 1998 .

[12]  A. Mckay.  Rural Parents' Attitudes toward School-Based Sexual Health Education , 1996 .

[13]  Linda L. Dannison,et al.  Sexuality Education of Young Children: Parental Concerns , 1995 .