![Sample our Education journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5932/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Education.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
As adolescents turn to online resources for health information, obstetricians and gynaecologists can play an active role in creating evidence-based resources for sexual health education. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of a sexual health education website on adolescent girls’ reproductive health knowledge and self-efficacy. It took the form of a prospective study among girls aged 14–18 in a rural area of the USA. Informed consent and parental consent were obtained. Participants completed a pre-test survey containing a 20 question validated Reproductive Health Knowledge Index (RHKI) and six self-efficacy questions. They then completed the website curriculum (www.marshallteentalk.org), followed by a post-test survey containing RHKI and same self-efficacy questions. Thirty-three girls completed the study with an average age of 16.42 (SD 1.09). Ten (30.3%) reported never having received sexual health education in school. Overall mean RHKI score improved from pre-test to post-test (87.67 SD 6.35 vs 90.82 SD 7.45, p = 0.012). Change in knowledge score ranged from −16.25 to+19.17 with a mean increase of+3.14 (SD 6.77). A greater proportion of participants reported improved confidence in obtaining birth control, recognising an unhealthy relationship, and getting tested for STIs.
Acknowledgments
We thank Matthew Cincotta for his assistance with the website and Bulldog Creative Services in Huntington, West Virginia, for website design and maintenance.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).