Sexuality Education

What are typical components of comprehensive sexuality education (5)?

• General hygiene & menstrual care

• A&P

• Social skills

• Sexual education

• Safety interventions

What populations/aspects are typically excluded or intermixed in sexuality education?

• Intersectionality

• Physical/Developmental/Learning disabilities

• Race

• Gender

• LGBTQIA+

Is sexuality a basic human right?

YES

What can withholding sexual education from certain populations lead to?

• Misinformation

• Self-research

• Inappropriate and damaging imagery of sex

What are the top 3 negative effects of ineffective sex ed?

• Sexual abuse

• STIs

• Pregnancy

List some barriers to sexual education in parents & teachers (4).

• Lack of self-efficacy

• Projection

• De-sexualization

• Curbing behavior

When children with disabilities receive comprehensive sexual education, there is a decrease in:

• STIs

• Unwanted pregnancies

• Abortions

What makes sex ed truly comprehensive (5)?

• Clear language

• Adapted to age

• Adapted to specific cognitive levels

• Non-judgmental

• Sexually inclusive

List barriers to sex ed seen in healthcare (13).

• Patient is seen as asexual

• Patient is seen as a protected class

• Limited support for educators

• Info is non-comprehensive & normative

• Parents or caregiver role

• Info packaged with attempted uniformity (pamphlet)

• Competing health priorities

• Insufficient time for conversation/reimbursement

• Lack of knowledge for diagnosis

• Discomfort

• Deferral

• Misperceptions

• Parental issues (restrictions)

What are some barriers to sex ed from the patient perspective (4)?

• Healthcare professionals never bring it up

• They feel dismissed

• Pathology

• Not good access to sexual educators

How can sex ed be incorporated into PT?

• Bring up the subject

• Make it a general part of intake

• Discuss relationships if they’re open

• Multidisciplinary approach