Purpose: In recent years, there has been concern in Japan about the increase in STDs among adolescents aged 15 - 19. In order to prevent STDs and guide adolescents toward desirable sexual behavior, this study’s goal was to examine the actual state of STD prevention education taught by school nurses as part of the school curriculum, as well as the kinds of digital content they wish to have for teaching on the subject. Method: An anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was distributed by email and leaflet. Targeting the 100 valid responses received from the surveyed school nurses, descriptive statistics were made for each survey item and comparisons were made between the early- and mid-career groups based on years of experience. Results: 70.0% of respondents reported teaching about STDs in Health & Physical Education classes. School nurses in the early-career group used ready-made materials, while the mid-career group used both ready-made and self-made materials. 95% of respondents reported that they had little or no knowledge of STDs, while 84% reported that they were “good” or “fairly good” at teaching classes on sexuality. Both groups reported difficulty with the topics of “phimosis” and “nocturnal emissions” in the physiological category, “sexual behavior” in the “sex-adjacent” category, and “sexual and reproductive issues” in the psychosocial category. Respondents expressed a need for digital content covering the topics of “sexual violence”, “sexual abuse”, “sexually transmitted diseases”, and “how to turn down sex”. The mid-career group desired digital content for more items than the early-career group, with significant differences in the pathogens involved in sexually transmitted diseases and sex-adjacent items. 32.0% of respondents answered that they had done self-study for sex education classes in the past three years, and both groups desired self-study on “sexually transmitted diseases”, with the mid-career group significantly higher than the early-career group on “cervical cancer & HPV”, “emergency contraceptives”, and “media literacy”. Conclusion: Health & Physical Education
References
[1]
Miyagi, E., Sukegawa, A., Mizushima, T., et al. (2024) WHO a Global Health Issue: Eliminating Cervical Cancer. https://www.jsog.or.jp/uploads/files/jsogpolicy/who-slides_cxcaelimination.pdf
[2]
National Cancer Registry, Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (2024) Cancer Statistics. Cancer Information Service, National Cancer Center, Japan. https://www.niid.go.jp/niid/ja/chlamydia-std-m/chlamydia-std-idwrs/10630-chlamydia-21sep.html
[3]
National Institute of Infectious Diseases (2024) Trends in the Incidence of Genital Chlamydia Infections, 2000-2020. https://www.niid.go.jp/niid/ja/chlamydia-std-m/chlamydia-std-idwrs/10630-chlamydia-21sep.html
[4]
Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (2024) Healthy Parents and Children 21 and Related Measures Based on the Basic Law for Child and Maternal Health and Child Development. https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/11920000/000902757.pdf
[5]
Ishikawa, Y., et al. (2016) Gender Norms Affecting Teenagers’ Sexual Behaviours and the Issues of School-Based Sexuality Education in Japan. Kwassui Women’sUniversity Journal, 59, 19-35.
[6]
Tada, T., et al. (2001) Sexual Issues among Secondary School Students and School-Based Sex Education. Bulletin of University of Tokushima School of Medical Sciences, 11, 49-59.
[7]
Aoyagi, C. (2016) Feelings of Distress and Challenges Faced by High School Yogo Teachers When Implementing Sex Education. Annual Report of the Faculty of Education, Gunma University. Art, Technology, Health and Physical Education, and Science of Human Living Series, 51, 67-76.
[8]
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. (2024) On Sexuality Guidance in Schools: A Focus on AIDS and STDs https://www.mhlw.go.jp/file/05-shingikai-10601000-daijinkanboukouseikagakuka-kouseikagakuka/0000152909.pdf
[9]
Nakamura, T., Saga, Y., Hosokawa, N., et al. (2022) A Literature Review on the State of High School Sex Education Implemented by School Nurses. Health, 14, 1227-1243. https://www.scirp.org/journal/health https://doi.org/10.4236/health.2022.1412087
[10]
Matsushita, K. and Tamae, K. (2012) Considerations for Human Sexuality Education Based on Historical Transition among Children in Japan. Memoirs of the Faculty of Education and Culture, Miyazaki University. Art, Health and Physical Education, Home Economics, and Technics, 25·26, 9-20.
[11]
Kashiro, K. (2004) Basic Research on Developing Education Programs about to Women: The Present Condition of Sex Education and Future Directivity by High School Teachers. Niigata Research Institute of Nursing Report, 15, 65-72.
[12]
Suzuki, S. and Aoyagi, N. (2020) Survey of High School Students’ Perceptions of Sexual Education: Focusing on Yogo Teachers’ Intervention. Ibaraki UniversityStudies in Teaching Strategies, 39, 147-161.
[13]
Sekine, S., et al. (2018) The School System and the State of Sex Education in High Schools. Japanese Journal of Health and Human Ecology, 27, 125-136.
[14]
Gunji, N. (2022) Learning Effect of Lessons Aimed at Understanding Sex Education Teaching Perspectives. Educational Psychology Research, 70, 67-86. https://doi.org/10.5926/jjep.70.67
[15]
Kobayashi, Y., et al. (2003) About the Class Concerning Sex Education at Senior High School. Aichi University of Education Research Paper, 52, 45-52.
[16]
Tokuda, S., Nagaoka, R., Iiboshi, A., et al. (2005) The Present Condition and Assignment on Active Participation in Health Education by School Nurses. Bulletin of the Faculty of Education, Kagoshima University, 56, 25-42.
[17]
Ishida, Y. and Sonoda, N. (2016) Relationship between Self-Education Ability in Solitary School Nurse Arrangements and Job Difficulties. Japanese Journal of Applied Psychology, 42, 12-19.
[18]
Harold, M. and Donna, M. (2008) Role of the School Nurse in Providing School Health Services. American Academy of Pediatrics, 121, 1052-1056. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/121/5/1052/73463/role-of-the-school-nurse-in-providing-school
[19]
Takeda, B. (1990) STDs and School Education. Perinatal Medicine, 20, 681-685.
[20]
Ikeda, E., Takahashi, Y., Goto, Y., Sato, S., Kimura, C. and Takeuchi, N. (2007) Survey of High School Teachers’ Attitudes toward Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention Education: A Survey of High School Teachers in the Kutchan Public Health Center Area. Hokkaido Journal of Public Health, 21, 116-122.
[21]
Murase, Y., Ed. (2014) Sex Education for Boys: Building Gentle. Taishukan Publishing, Tokyo.
[22]
Yamamoto, N., Ed. (1994) Sex: Theory and Education Practice. Ayumi Publishing, Tokyo.
[23]
Tsuji, Y. (2008) A Review for Applying Audio-Visual Materials on the Lesson: Management of Materials and Copyrights. Otaru University of Commerce, the Review of Liberal Arts, 115, 175-194.
[24]
Arakawa, S. (2021) Trends and Problems of Sexually Transmitted Infections. Japanese Journal of Infection Prevention and Control, 36, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.4058/jsei.36.1
[25]
Kimura, T. (2012) The Digital Native Generation. Heibonsha, Tokyo.
[26]
Gender Equality Bureau Cabinet Office (2024) The Sexual Victimization of Children and Young Adults. https://www.gender.go.jp/kaigi/sonota/pdf/kyouka/05/03.pdf
[27]
Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (2024) Issues with the Prescription of Emergency Contraceptives. https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/11121000/000910045.pdf
[28]
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (2024) On the Training, Hiring, and Development of Teachers Tasked with Implementing the “Japanese-Style Education for the Reiwa Era” Plan: Implementing “a New Approach to Teacher Learning” and Forming Committees of Educational Staff with Diverse Specialization. https://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/shingi/chukyo/chukyo3/079/sonota/1412985_00004.htm
[29]
Hosako, K., et al. (2017) A Consideration of High School Students’ Understanding of Sex by Gender and the State of Sex Education. Japanese Nursing Association, Health Promotion, Tokyo, 39-42.
