Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Department of Reproductive Health,
2 Department of Psychiatric Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
Background: Adolescence is associated with so many changes, and to provide sexual health it
is necessary for teenagers to learn enough knowledge about the changes and appropriate health
behaviors. The attraction of sexual issues in teenagers is associated with more conversations
related to sexual matters. Therefore, this study has evaluated the effect of organizing these
interactions using peer education in schools on the knowledge and attitude toward sexual health.
Materials and Methods: This was an interventional study conducted on 282 girl teenagers
from high schools of Isfahan that were divided into two groups of intervention and control.
Peer education in the intervention group was done through 35 trained teenagers during normal
communications in school. Before the training knowledge and attitude of students in both
groups were evaluated; then peer education was conducted during 6 weeks through normal
communications on the intervention group and then afterward the knowledge and attitude of
the students were evaluated again. To analysis of data independent t‑test and paired t‑test were
used. Results: The results showed that the mean score of knowledge and attitudetoward all
sexual health dimensions during puberty in the intervention group was significantly higher after
the intervention (P < 0.05). In addition, there was a significant difference between the mean
score of knowledge and approach toward all the aspects of sexual health of both the studied
groups. Conclusions: The results showed that using peer education in schools informally could
enhance the knowledge and approach toward aspects of physical health, sexual behaviors,
and social and mental changes among female adolescences and could be applied in schools.
Keywords
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