Effects of an Educational Intervention on Angolan Adolescents’ Knowledge of Human Reproduction: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Natércia Almeida, Andreia Teixeira, José Garcia, Natália Martins and Carla Ramalho
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Natércia Almeida: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Central Hospital of Huambo, Huambo 95, Angola
Andreia Teixeira: Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
José Garcia: Department of Histology and Medical Embryology, University José Eduardo dos Santos, Huambo 95, Angola
Natália Martins: Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
Carla Ramalho: Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 24, 1-23

Abstract: Background and objectives: Sex education is a necessity and a right of young people in Angola. However, this education is deficient or even absent in various subsystems and, therefore, the impact of an educational intervention on human biology and sexuality was addressed. Materials and methods: This quasi-experimental study employed a non-equivalent control group, pre-test post-test design. It was conducted with students from three secondary schools (6th to 12th grade, two public and one private) in Huambo (Angola), between June and December 2017. First, a questionnaire was distributed to assess the students’ knowledge on aspects related to sexual maturation, psychological development, gynecological organs’ anatomy, human fertilization, contraception, and risks of unprotected sexuality. Then, an educational program was developed by the principal investigator along with the school’s moral and civic education and biology teachers selected for a group of students (experimental group, EG); the others constituted the control group (CG). Classes were held on non-working days, on Saturday mornings (8:00 to 10:00 a.m.), so as not to interfere with the school calendar. The initial questionnaire was redistributed two months later to assess the impact of the intervention. Results: Of the 589 individuals included (mean age of 16.8 ± 2.5 years), 56.7% were males. EG (n = 241) consisted of students from the public school and CG (n = 348) by students from public and private schools. The last part of the questionnaire consisted of 30 questions to assess students’ knowledge, and in 23 of these questions, both groups showed no differences at baseline. After the intervention, the EG showed significant improvements ( p < 0.05), while the CG revealed only slight improvements. Conclusions: Students from Huambo province have a significant lack of knowledge on human biology and sexuality. Rigorous development and evaluation of interventions addressing multiple individual and environmental level factors is needed, notably for effective education in human biology and sexuality.

Keywords: educational intervention; young adolescents; sex education; human biology; sexuality; contraception (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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