Sex education, first sex and sexual health outcomes in adulthood: findings from a nationallyrepresentative sexual health survey
2014
This study investigated the relationship between sex education received at school and
sexual health behaviours at first sex and later in adulthood, using nationally representative data.
Respondents were adults from the 2010 Irish Contraception and Crisis Pregnancy Survey (n =
3002), a cross-sectional survey designed to assess knowledge, attitudes and behaviours relating
to sex, contraception and pregnancy in Ireland. A multinomial logistic regression investigated
the predictors of age and contraception use at first sex Respondents who received sex education
were more likely to have first sex at an older age and use contraception on this occasion. Sex
education also significantly increased the likelihood of using contraception at first sex, when
first sex occurred before 17 years of age. Regression analyses also investigated the effect of
sex education and sexual health behaviours into adulthood. Sex education was negatively
associated with experiencing a crisis pregnancy and positively associated with a history of STI
testing. There was no association found between sex education and contraception use over the
past year. Findings suggest that sex education is an important factor in the context of first sex
and later sexual health. Sex education programmes should continue to equip adolescents as
they make immediate sexual behaviour decisions and further sexual health-related decisions
throughout their lifespan.
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