Tailoring sex-education programs to adolescents--a strategy for the primary prevention of unwanted adolescent pregnancies
Maslach, G.; Kerr, G.B.
Adolescence 18(70): 449-456
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-8449 PMID: 6880939 Document Number: 393437
The data for this study was derived from 88 unstructured interviews conducted with a purposive sample of adolescents from September 1978 through July 1979. All interview abstracts were content analyzed with particular emphasis on the comments and suggestions made by the adolescents in regard to sex education in order to ascertain their needs. A "theoretical sampling frame" of the kind recommended by Glaser and Strauss (1967) was utilized in developing the sampling strategy adopted by the Contraception Among Adolescents Study (CAA). As opposed to probability sampling, theoretical sampling guided the collection of data to generate theory. Emerging categories of behavior evolved and later served as the basis of comparison of properties found within the categories. 3 areas in need of immediate revision were identified-curriculum, format, and lecturer. Respondents also provided a variety of suggestions which can be used by educators and planners in developing and implementing sex education programs, thereby making programs sensitive to the expressed needs and wants of adolescents. This qualitative study supports the findings of many quantitative studies which found that many adolescents do not have, yet want, sensitive sex education programs.