Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Promoting adolescent sexual health: enhancing professional knowledge and skills

  • Chapter
Evidence-based Child Health Care

  • 29 Accesses

Abstract

This chapter explores the role of health professionals in promoting sexual health and briefly reviews the literature examining aspects that influence young people’s sexual knowledge, skills and behaviour, as well as the role of the nurse as a sexual health promoter. A small-scale research study is described that utilised a qualitative approach to explore further the development of young people’s sexual health by interviewing a sample of student nurses. Findings and possible implications for a number of health professionals are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Aggleton P. and Kapila M. (1992) ‘Young people, HIV/AIDS and the promotion of sexual health’, Health Promotion International 7 (1): 45–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Akinsanya J. A. and Rouse P. (1991) Who will Care? A Survey of the Knowledge and Attitudes of Hospital Nurses to People with HIV/AIDS, Norwich, Anglia Polytechnic University, Faculty of Health and Social Work.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen I. (1987) Education in Sex and Personal Relationships, London, Policy Studies Institute/Blackmore Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen I. (1991) Family Planning and Pregnancy Counselling Projects for Young People, London, Policy Studies Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker P. (1991) ‘Interview’. In Cormack D. F. S. (ed.) The Research Process in Nursing, Oxford, Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bandura A. (1989) ‘Perceived self-efficacy in the exercise of personal agency’, Psychologist 2 (10): 411–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Basen-Engquist K. and Parcel G. S. (1992) ‘Attitudes, norms and self-efficacy: a model of adolescents’ HIV-related sexual risk behaviour’, Health Education Quarterly 19 (2): 263–77.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beck C. T. (1992) ‘The lived experience of post partum depression: a phenomenological study’, Nursing Research 41 (3): 166–70.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bond S., Rhodes T. J., Philips P. R. et al. (1989) A National Survey of HIV Infection. AIDS and Community Nursing Staff in England: A Summary Report, Newcastle, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Healthcare Research Unit.

    Google Scholar 

  • Breakwell G. M., Fife-Schaw C. and Clayden K. (1991) ‘Risk-taking, control over partner choice and intended use of condoms by virgins’, Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology 1: 173–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen L. and Manion L. (1989) Research Methods in Education ( 3rd edn ), London, Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Curtis H. A., Tripp J. H., Lawrence C. and Clarke W. L. (1988) ‘The influence of teenage relationships and sex education’, Archives of Diseases in Childhood 63: 935–41.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Davidson N. (1990) Boys will be…? Sex Education and Young Men, London, Bedford Square Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Department of Health (1993a) The Health of the Nation. Key Area Handbook: HIV/AIDS and Sexual Health, London, HMSO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Department of Health (1993b) Targeting Practice: The Contribution of Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors, London, DoH.

    Google Scholar 

  • English National Board (1994) Caring for People with Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Including HIV Disease. Open Learning Pack, London, ENB.

    Google Scholar 

  • Few C., Hicken I. and Butterworth T. (1996) Partnerships in Sexual Health and Sex Education, Manchester, University of Manchester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Field P. A. and Morse J. M. (1985) Nursing Research: The Application of Qualitative Approaches, London, Croom Helm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fishbein M. and Ajzen I. (1975) Belief, Attitude, Intention and Behaviour: An Introduction to Theory and Research, Reading, MA, Addison-Wesley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green J. and Delaney F. (1994) ‘Beyond the bike-sheds’, Health Service Journal 9 June, p. 10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hogan R. (1980) Human Sexuality. A Nursing Perspective, New York, Appleton-Century-Crofts.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holland J., Ramazonoglu C., Scott S., Sharpe S. and Thomson R. (1991) ‘Between embarrassment and trust: young woman and the diversity of condom use’. In Aggleton P., Hart G. and Davies P. (eds) AIDS: Responses, Interventions and Care, London, Falmer Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holland J., Ramazonoglu C., Sharpe S. and Thomson R. (1992) ‘Pleasure, pressure and power: some contradictions of gendered sexuality’, Sociological Review 40 (4): 646–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holly L. (ed.) (1989) Sexuality: Teaching and Learning, Milton Keynes, Open University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingram R. (1993) Can we have a Policy on Sex? Setting Targets for Teenage Pregnancies, Occasional Paper, IHPS, Southampton, University of Southampton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingram R., Woodcock A. and Stenner K. (1991) ‘Getting to know you… young people’s knowledge of their partners at first intercourse’, Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology 1: 117–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ingram R., Woodcock A. and Stenner K. (1992) ‘The limitations of rational decision-making models as applied to young people’s sexual behaviour’. In Aggleton P., Davies P. and Hart G. (eds) AIDS, Rights Risk and Reason, London, Falmer Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasen S., Vaughan R. D. and Walter H. J. (1992) ‘Self-efficacy for aids preventive behaviors among tenth grade students’, Health Education Quarterly 19 (2): 187–202.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Loewenstein G. and Furstenberg F. (1991) ‘Is teenage sexual behaviour rational?’, Journal of Applied Social Psychology 21 (12): 957–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McHaffie H. (1993) The Care of Patients with HIV and AIDS: A Survey of Nurse Education in the UK, A Report, Edinburgh, University of Edinburgh, Institute of Medical Ethics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackenize A. (1994) ‘Evaluating ethnography: considerations for analysis’, Journal of Advanced Nursing 19: 774–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mellanby A. R., Phelps F. A., Crichton N. J. and Tripp J. H. (1995) ‘School sex education: an experimental programme with educational and medical benefit’, British Medical Journal 311: 414–17.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Oiler C. (1982) ‘The phenomenological approach in nursing research’, Nursing Research 31 (3): 178–81.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Peckham S. (1992) Unplanned Pregnancy and Teenage Pregnancy. A Review, Southampton, Wessex Research Consortium IHPS, University of Southampton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petosa R. and Jackson K. (1991) ‘Using the health belief model to predict safer sex intentions among adolescents’, Health Education Quarterly 18 (4): 463–76.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Prendergast S. (1992) This Is the Time to Grow Up: Girls’ Experiences of Menstruation in School, Cambridge, Health Promotion Trust.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robson C. (1993) Real World Research, Oxford, Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenthal D., Moore S. and Flynn I. (1991) ‘Adolescent self-efficacy, self-esteem and sexual risk taking’, Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology 1: 77–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenthal D., Hall C. and Moore S. (1992) ‘AIDS, adolescents and sexual risk taking: a test of the health belief model’, Australian Psychologist 27 (3): 166–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (1991) Report of the Working Party on Unplanned Pregnancy, London, RCOG.

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell P. (1992) Sex and the student nurse. Student nurses’ perceptions of their preparation and role in promoting the sexual health of patients. Implications for education. Unpublished dissertation, Southampton University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Savage J. (1987) Nurses, Gender and Sexuality, London, Heinemann.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scally G. (1993) ‘Teenage pregnancies —– the challenge of prevention’, Midwives Chronicle, Jul.: pp. 232–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Small S. A., Silverberg S. and Kerns D. (1993) ‘Adolescents’ perceptions of the costs and benefits of engaging in health-compromising behaviours’, Journal of Youth and Adolescence 22 (1): 73–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith R. (1995) Engaging young people–the promotion of sexual health. Unpublished dissertation, University of Southampton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith R (1997a) ‘Promoting the sexual health of young people. Part 1’, Paediatric Nursing 9 (2): 24–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith R (1997b) ‘Promoting the sexual health of young people. Part 2’, Paediatric Nursing 9 (3): 24–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Svenson L. W., Varnhagen C. K., Godin A. M. and Salmon T. L. (1992) ‘Rural high school students’ knowledge, attitudes and behaviours related to sexually transmitted disease’, Canadian Journal of Public Health 83 (4): 260–3.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Webb C. (1985) Sexuality, Nursing and Health, Chichester, John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wellings K., Field J., Johnson A. and Wadsworth J. (1994) Sexual Behaviour in Britain. The National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles, London, Penguin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodcock A., Stenner K. and Ingram R. (1992a) ‘Young people talking about HIV and AIDS: interpretation of personal risk of infection’, Health Education Research 7 (2): 229–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woodcock A., Stenner K. and Ingram R. (1992b) ‘All those contraceptives, videos and that…: young people talking about sex education’, Health Education Research 7 (40): 517–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yaber W. and Greer J. (1986) ‘The relationships between sexual attitudes of parents and their college daughters’ or sons’ sexual attitudes and sexual behaviour’, Journal of School Health, 56 (2): 68–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Further reading

  • Readers may find the following papers helpful. They were identified from the NHS CRD Systematic Review 1998 database.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim N., Stanton B., Li X., Dickersin K., and Galbraith J. (1997) ‘Effectiveness of the 40 adolescent aids-risk reduction interventions’, Journal of Adolescent Health 20 (3): 204–15.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kirby D., Short L., Collins J. et al. (1994) ‘School-based programs to reduce sexual risk behaviour: a review of effectiveness’, Public Health Reports 109 (3): 339–60.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Oakley A., Fullerton D, Holland J. et al. (1995) ‘Sexual health education interventions for young people: a methodological review’, British Medical Journal 310: 158–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Rachael L. Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Southampton, UK

    Edward Alan Glasper (Professor of Nursing and Academic Head of Child Health Studies) & Lorraine Ireland (Lecturer in Child Health Studies) (Professor of Nursing and Academic Head of Child Health Studies) &  (Lecturer in Child Health Studies)

Copyright information

© 2000 The Editor(s)

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Smith, R.L. (2000). Promoting adolescent sexual health: enhancing professional knowledge and skills. In: Glasper, E.A., Ireland, L. (eds) Evidence-based Child Health Care. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-333-98239-6_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-333-98239-6_11

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-333-80230-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-333-98239-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation