The Desirability of Involving Adolescents in Sex Education Planning

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Abstract
In summary, several points which indicate the desirability of involving adolescents in sex education planning need to be reiterated. First, without adolescent representation, adults tend to lack an awareness of teenagers' needs for sex information services. The negative consequences of not serving these needs are well-documented. A second important consideration is that without adolescent input there is less chance the sex education programs will be tailored to fit the target population. The data from the Detroit program are useful for making people aware of teenagers' needs for sex education. These data can form a basis for beginning program planning, but they should be strengthened with input from the specific target population the program is intended to serve. And third, getting adolescent health consumers involved in program planning and operation by giving them meaningful responsibility is important to their growth and development. It is hoped increased representation of teenagers in the planning process will improve the quality of sex education programs available to them to the point where the current situation will be reversed so that the majority of sexually active teenagers will not have engaged in intercourse without using contraception because of inaccurate knowledge or difficulty in obtaining birth control. Adolescents must be regarded as people with important things to say and must be included in sex information programs not just as passive receivers, but as active partners in policy formulation and operation.

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