"I wouldn't have felt so alone": The sexual health education experiences of transgender and gender diverse youth living in the southeastern United States

Paula E Jayne; Leigh E Szucs; Catherine A Lesesne; Rose Grace Grose; Michelle M Johns

doi:10.1111/psrh.12258

"I wouldn't have felt so alone": The sexual health education experiences of transgender and gender diverse youth living in the southeastern United States

Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2024 Apr 16. doi: 10.1111/psrh.12258. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Paula E Jayne¹, Leigh E Szucs², Catherine A Lesesne³, Rose Grace Grose⁴, Michelle M Johns⁵

Affiliations

¹ U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Adolescent and School Health, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
² U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Adolescent and School Health, Chamblee, Georgia, USA.
³ Deloitte Consulting, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
⁴ Colorado School of Public Health, Community Health Education, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado, USA.
⁵ NORC at the University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.

PMID: 38623631
DOI: 10.1111/psrh.12258

Abstract

Background: Transgender and gender diverse youth experience multiple disproportionate adverse sexual health outcomes. Sexual health education teaches knowledge, attitudes, and skills for promoting sexual health, including reducing risk for sexually transmitted infection, HIV acquisition, and unintended pregnancy. Provision of sexual health education may be protective, but research remains scarce.

Methods: We conducted a multi-stage thematic analysis of 33 in-depth interviews among transgender and gender diverse youth (ages 15-24) living in the southeastern United States on their sexual health education experiences.

Results: Our study participants described school-based sexual health education as unhelpful due to a lack of relevant information, inadequately prepared teachers, and a perceived negative tone toward sexuality. They reported relying on online sources of sexual health information, finding relevant content and community despite some limitations. Participants desired content and pedagogy that expands beyond binary and white-centric presentations of sexuality and gender and sought resources that provide relevant, accurate, and judgment-free information while holding positive framing around sexuality and gender.

Conclusion: There is much work needed to improve the breadth, quality, and relevance of school-based sexual health education. Sexual health education can improve by strengthening critical media literacy skills of youth; raising staff cultural competency on gender, race, and sexual identity through training and supports; using culturally relevant and inclusive curricula; and partnering with community-based organizations. Transgender and gender diverse youth would benefit from sexual health education from multiple sources which is queer-friendly, affirms their existence, and provides information on gender, race, and sexuality in positive and expansive ways.

Keywords: LGBTQ+; STI/HIV; adolescent; pregnancy prevention; sexual health education; transgender youth.

Abstract

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