Facilitators of Sexual Health Education for Male Adolescents in Iran: A Qualitative Study

Fariba Askari; Khadigeh Mirzaiinajmabadi; Mahmood Saeedy Rezvani; Seyyed-Mohsen Asgharinekah

doi:10.4103/ijnmr.IJNMR_299_19

Facilitators of Sexual Health Education for Male Adolescents in Iran: A Qualitative Study

Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2020 Jun 17;25(4):348-355. doi: 10.4103/ijnmr.IJNMR_299_19. eCollection 2020 Jul-Aug.

Authors

Fariba Askari¹, Khadigeh Mirzaiinajmabadi², Mahmood Saeedy Rezvani³, Seyyed-Mohsen Asgharinekah⁴

Affiliations

¹ Student Research Committee, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
² Associated Professor in Reproductive Health, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
³ Associated Professor, Department of Curriculum Studies and Instruction, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
⁴ Associated Professor, Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

Abstract

Background: Adolescence is a period of rapid physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and sexual development. The widening gap between biological maturity and social transition to adulthood highlights the importance of adolescents' need for education, especially in sexual health. The main objective of this study was to explore the facilitators of Sexual Health Education (SHE) for male adolescents in Iran.

Materials and methods: In this qualitative content analysis, a total number of 45 participants were investigated from June 2018 to July 2019 through individual, semi-structured, in-depth interviews in the city of Mashhad, Iran, until data saturated. The participants were selected using a purposive sampling method. The data were analyzed using a conventional content analysis method based on the approach developed by Graneheim and Lundman (2004) using MAXQDA software.

Results: In data analysis, 2 main categories and 9 subcategories emerged. The main categories included extrapersonal facilitators and intrapersonal facilitators. The category of extrapersonal facilitators included the 7 subcategories of appropriate policy-making, use of religious capacities, consideration of native culture, supportive family environment, school empowerment, inter-sectoral integration and collaboration, and reinforcement of parent-teacher interaction. The category of intrapersonal facilitators comprised of the 2 subcategories of supporting adolescent socialization and using distraction techniques in adolescents.

Conclusions: The study revealed that having an action plan with a scientific, ethical, legal, religious, and cultural background, establishing a suitable home, school, and community environment, strengthening inter-sectoral integration, collaboration, and interpersonal coordination, and utilizing the capabilities and potentials of adolescents can provide an appropriate SHE for adolescent boys.

Keywords: Adolescent; education; male; qualitative research; sexual health.