Exposure to and opinions towards sex education among adolescent students in Mumbai: A cross-sectional survey

A cross-sectional study was carried out in junior colleges in Mumbai in 2010. The self-administered questionnaire investigated male and female students' (aged 15-17) exposure and opinions towards sex education. Data was entered into and analysed using SPSS version 17.0.The questionnaire was completed by 427 students. Almost 90% of students believed it important to have sex education as part of school curriculum; over 60% reported prior exposure to sex education in school. However, only 45% were satisfied they had good access to advice about contraception and sexual health, particularly, females reported more limited access.The majority responding indicated a desire for more widespread implementation of school-based sex education, particularly amongst female respondents.Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are among the world's most common diseases; their annual incidence is exceeded only by diarrheal diseases, lower respiratory tract infections and malaria [1]. STIs can result in extensive and devastating physical, social and economic consequences [1,2]. India is in the grip of an HIV epidemic, with an estimated 2.5 million citizens living with HIV [3], and has an annual incidence of STIs estimated at 5% [4].Adolescents are disproportionally burdened by threats to their sexual health [5,6]. The largest proportion of STIs occur in youth [1,7], with up to 1 in 20 adolescents developing a new STI yearly [1]. In India 31% of existing HIV cases are accounted for by young adults (aged 15-29), despite comprising less than 25% of the population [8]. Whilst there are numerous factors increasing adolescents' vulnerability to poor sexual health outcomes, including physiology [7], economic dependence [8], societal norms and gender imbalances [9]; the lack of access to accurate and comprehensive information regarding sexual health is a key contributor [8,10].Sex education programmes have proven, 'a cornerstone in reducing adolescent sexual risk behaviours and promoting sexual