A quarterly international newsletter on sexuality, sexual health, and sexuality education.
Volume 1, Issue 1 Spring/Summer 2000
RUSSIA
STUDY LOOKS AT YOUTH SEXUALITY KNOWLEDGE AND SEXUALITY EDUCATION
As Russia struggles economically and politically into the new century, one of the greatest challenges it faces is the threat of increasing rates of HIV/AIDS infections, STDs, and other related sexual and reproductive health concerns. Though no national policy on sexuality education exists, the need for education is more imperative now than ever. A recent study reflects a growing desire among students, parents, and teachers for sexuality education. The study, organized by UNFPA and UNESCO for the Russian Ministry of Education, was conducted by the Transnational Family Research Institute in Moscow.
A survey of seventh to ninth graders, their parents, and teachers in eight cities in Russia (including Moscow and St. Petersburg) in 16 schools assessed young people’s knowledge of sexuality, desire for education, their sources of sexuality information, and their sexual behavior, as well as adults’ ability to provide this information. The study is based on the responses to questionnaires collected from 4,000 students, 1,300 parents, and 400 teachers.
The study found that while students show an interest in discussing sexuality issues by the seventh grade, comparatively few have the resources to further pursue their sexuality questions or have an outlet for further discussion. As in many parts of the world, it is the opinion of the students’ peers that has a great impact on their sexual knowledge and activity. Among boys surveyed, there was greater likelihood that their peers positively reinforced initiating sexual activity at an early age, over 50% in grades 8 and 9. Girls and their peers had more negative attitudes toward initiating sexual activity earlier, with over 50% in grade 7 not supporting the behavior.
In terms of self-assessment of sexuality knowledge, more boys than girls tend to think they have adequate knowledge about sex. In the seventh grade, 21% of boys and 12% of girls feel they know enough about sex; in the eighth grade 31% of boys and 17% of girls said so; and in the ninth grade, 34% and 27% of girls said so. Over half of all student respondents (across all grades) said the primary source of their knowledge was printed materials such as books and magazines; friends also were a popular resource.
In comparison, young people tended to go to either parents or teachers less often for information on sexuality. Overall, only 10% of boys and 26% of girls went to parents for information on sexuality, and 7% of boys and 11% of girls went to teachers. Only 11% of teachers felt prepared to answer questions around sexuality, and only one third of parents felt they had adequate knowledge on sexuality.
Given the lack of preparedness and knowledge around sexuality, the desire for having sexuality education in schools was strong among all respondents. Of all students, 67% of boys and 69% of girls wanted sexuality education; of the parents, 60% of the men and 65% of the women said so; and of teachers, 65% of the men and 48% of women said they wanted sexuality education in schools.
From: Chervyakov, Valeriy. “A Report on the Results of a Sociological Survey of the Sexuality of Secondary School Students in Eight Regions of Russia.” The In-School Sex Education for Teenagers in the Russian Federation project of AESOP, Moscow.
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