The Effects of a Sex Education Program on Knowledge Related to Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Sexual Autonomy among University Students / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a sex education program, which was based on the Health Belief Model, on knowledge related to sexually transmitted diseases and sexual autonomy among university students. METHOD: A non-equivalent control group, pretest-posttest design was used. The four session program was delivered to 18 students during 4 weeks; the control group consisted of 23 students. The theme of the first session was "sex, gender, and sexuality: all our concern", "dangerous sex" for the second session, " safe sex" for the third session, and "right sex for you and me" for the fourth session. RESULT: At follow-up, the knowledge related to sexually transmitted diseases and sexual autonomy were significantly greater in the intervention group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: A sex education program with several sessions within the theoretical frame of HBM was effective to improve knowledge related to sexually transmitted diseases and sexual autonomy. The results suggest the potential of a systematic sexual education program to teach healthy sex and to extend the program for other various populations.

Body Mass Index, relative weight and Waist-hip ratio of school children and adolescents in Seoul

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to obtain the accurate information on the obesity indices, such as body mass index(BMI), relative weight and waist-hip ratio(WHR) and to investigate their relationship in order to assess the childhood and adolescent obesity more appropriately. METHODS: In May, 1995, a total of 6943(male; 3469, female; 3474) students from primary, middle and high schools in Seoul were selected and each students height, weight, waist and hip circumference data were collected. RESULTS: The BMI increased with age in both sexes. From age 12 to 16, values of BMI 50th percentiles for females exceeded those for males. And the BMI 95th percentiles at the age of 13 to 14 years were higher for females than for males. The prevalence of obesity by relative weight was higher in males than in females(male ; 17.9%, female ; 13.1%). The WHR was higher in males than females in all age group and decreased with age in both sexes, showing more sharp reduction in females. Strong correlations were observed between the BMI and the relative weight, and the BMI and the relative weight correlated closely with WHR. The WHR was significanly higher in obese group' than in non-obese group. In the female obese group aged 6 to 11 years, no significant correlation was found between the relative weight and the WHR. CONCLUSIONS: There were significant relationships between the indices of obesity and body fat distribution. This study suggests that WHR as well as BMI and relative weight might be useful in assessing the childhood and adolescent obesity.