Abstract

OBJECTIVES
A new school curriculum was introduced in Estonia in 1996 comprising for the first time sexuality education (SE) topics. The first youth counselling centres (YCCs) addressing sexual health matters were set up in 1991-1992. This study describes the development of school-based SE and YCCs in 1992 - 2009, and explores the concurrent changes in sexuality-related knowledge, behaviour, and sexual health indicators.
METHODS
The analyses are based on 12 population-based surveys. Data on births, abortions and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, are taken from national registers.
RESULTS
By the middle of the past decade SE was well established. There has been a trend towards younger age at first sexual intercourse, and increased usage of condoms and reliable contraceptive methods. The abortion rate among 15-19-year-olds declined by 61% and their fertility rate by 59%. The annual number of registered new HIV cases among 15-19-year-olds dropped from 560 in 2001 to 25 in 2009, new syphilis cases from 116 in 1998 to two in 2009, and gonorrhoea cases from 263 in 1998 to 20 in 2009.
CONCLUSIONS
This study documents considerable improvements in sexual health indicators of youths, and indicates that these run parallel to the development of school-based SE and YCCs.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Haldre K, Part K, Ketting E

Institution

Tartu University Women's Clinic, Tartu, Estonia. kai.haldre@kliinikum.ee

Source

The European journal of contraception & reproductive health care : the official journal of the European Society of Contraception 17:5 2012 Oct pg 351-62

MeSH

Abortion, Induced
Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Birth Certificates
Coitus
Contraception Behavior
Counseling
Estonia
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health Status Indicators
Health Surveys
Humans
Middle Aged
Population Surveillance
School Health Services
Sex Education
Sex Factors
Sexual Behavior
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Students
Time Factors

Pub Type(s)

Comparative Study
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22839367