Utah Young Adults Describe What They Wished They Had Learned in Sex Education: A Qualitative Study

Utah implements an abstinence-based approach to sex education. However, research has found that abstinence-based sex education is associated with higher risk-taking behaviors, and youth would like more from their school-based sex education. This study examined what sex education information or programs young adults in Utah would have liked to receive during high school. Participants provided responses to a single open-ended question included in the Utah College Sexual Behavior Survey. The results of a thematic analysis show the emergence of four salient themes, including fundamental knowledge, contraception and sexually transmitted infection prevention, personal safety, consent, and abuse. Findings suggest that participants wanted sex education beyond just abstinence and stressed the importance of inclusive education. Recommendations for school nurses and the important role they play in delivering sex education include receiving education needed to teach sex education and working with school health educators to act as a resource.