[Parental sex education and sexual risk behavior of daughters and sons: findings from the representative survey "Youth Sexuality"]

BACKGROUND

According to socialization theory, parental sex education should lead to increased sexual literacy in adolescents. However, current data for Germany is lacking.

RESEARCH AIM

Against this backdrop, the aim of the present study was to link for the first time the general conversations about sexuality in the family (research question 1, RQ1), and specifically parental contraception education (RQ2), with the sexual risk behavior of adolescents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The database is the ninth wave of the representative survey "Youth Sexuality" conducted by the Federal Centre for Health Education in Germany (BZgA). Data from all sexually active 14- to 17-year-old adolescents in the sample who provided information on their sexual behavior and whose parents reported on their sex education behavior were analyzed (N = 357). To answer the two research questions, logistic regression analyses were carried out with four central characteristics of adolescent sexual behavior.

RESULTS

The results showed that for both girls and boys conversations about sexuality in the family are positively correlated with (1) reached age of consent at first sexual intercourse, (2) a positive first sexual intercourse experience, (3) reliable contraception use, and (4) a low number of sexual partners (RQ1). The same pattern of results emerged for contraception education by parents (RQ2).

DISCUSSION

The positive correlations between parental sex education and less risky adolescent sexual behavior need to be further investigated with respect to the underlying causal mechanisms.

Sexual and Contraceptive Behaviour of Adolescents and Young Adults in Germany

Background

For 40 years the Federal Centre for Health Education in Germany has been analysing the contraception behaviour of young people. The current Survey is the ninth iteration, carried out in 2019. This continuous monitoring generates insights on the sexual and reproductive health of young people in Germany. The survey provides an important basis for the development of sexuality education and family planning measures.

Methods

A total of N = 6032 adolescents and young adults participated in the survey. Date collection was conducted by computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI). The current sexual and contraceptive behaviour of adolescents and young adults will be summarized using descriptive results. In addition, the association between contraception non-use and sociodemographic factors, characteristics of sexuality education and situated factors of first sexual intercourse is analysed by multivariate logistic regressions.

Results

A key finding of this iteration is that with regards to the age of the first sexual intercourse, the proportion of adolescents younger than 17 years has been declining for several years. For contraception, adolescents most frequently used condoms, and use of the pill has decreased. 9% of the participants reported non-contraception use at first sexual intercourse. This is significantly associated (p < .01) with unexpected and only unilaterally desired sexual intercourse and the absence of sexuality education in School. In addition, the younger the adolescence were at first sexual intercourse the greater the risk for contraception non-use.

Conclusions

The data from the current iteration indicate safe and responsible contraceptive behaviour among young people in Germany. It is important to maintain the commitment in the field of sexual health promotion and expand prevention measures for young people. This is the only way to ensure the sexual and reproductive health also in the next generation.

Key messages

Sexuality education for young people in Germany.Results of the 'Youth Sexuality' representative repeat survey

The Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) has been conducting the 'Youth Sexuality' representative survey on a regular basis since 1980. This continuous monitoring generates insights into the sexual and reproductive health of young people in Germany and constitutes an important basis for evidence-based health communication. A total of N=6,032 young people between the ages of 14 and 25 participated in a combination of oral and written interviews (Computer Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI)). As primary sources of knowledge for, adolescents state that they obtain information through school lessons (69%), personal discussions (68%), and the Internet (59%). In addition to these sources, professional gynaecological counselling and sexuality education at home are also important sources of information. To what extent trusted contact persons are available in the family depends heavily on the adolescents' sociocultural backgrounds. Providing information and disseminating knowledge to young people in the field of sexual and reproductive health is organised intersectorally in Germany. In this way, it is possible to also reach those who do not have any contact persons at their disposal in their direct family. Maintaining and strengthening the current commitment in promoting sexual health is of key importance, as only this will ensure the next generation's sexual and reproductive health, and provide an evidence-based counterbalance to anecdotal information, especially in the digital domain.

[Experiences of sexualised violence in adolescence: results of a representative survey]

BACKGROUND

The Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) has generated data on the prevalence of sexualised violence in adolescence through its representative survey on youth sexuality since 1998. Since then, the survey has been refined and thus contributes to bridging existing gaps in prevalence research.

AIM

Based on the ninth survey iteration of the youth sexuality study prevalence rates of direct (hands-on) and indirect (hands-off) sexualized violence in adolescence, data on offenders and disclosure of young people after victimization are depicted.

METHODS

Computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) was conducted in a sample (N = 6032) of adolescents (14-17 years) and young adults (18-25 years). Items on the lifetime prevalence of indirect (hands-off) sexualised violence were included in the questionnaire for the recent wave of the representative survey. This article offers the first descriptive survey results.

RESULTS

Adolescents and young adults experience sexualised violence predominantly within their own peer group. Additionally, peers play a significant role in responding to disclosure of sexualised violence.

DISCUSSION

The findings support results of other population surveys regarding differences between experiences of sexualised violence in childhood and adolescence. The survey is aimed to contribute to continuous monitoring, providing regular datasets on sexualised violence in adolescence. The study aims to induce evidence-based, target-group-specific prevention measures.

Aufsuchende Familienbegleitung in der COVID-19-Krise durch Gesundheitsfachkräfte der Frühen Hilfen

Um die aktuelle Arbeitssituation der aufsuchend tätigen Gesundheitsfachkräfte in den Frühen Hilfen und die Lage der Familien während der Kontaktbeschränkungen durch die Corona-Pandemie einschätzen zu können, befragte das Nationale Zentrum Frühe Hilfen (NZFH) Familienhebammen sowie Familien- und Gesundheitskinderkrankenpflegende. Die Ergebnisse der Befragung sind in dieser Arbeit zusammengefasst.

[The health sector and early childhood intervention: intersectoral collaboration in research]

BACKGROUND

Early childhood interventions are locally and regionally organized support services for families from pregnancy until the end of the third year of life. The interventions promote diverse measures to enhance parental skills in order to improve developmental and living circumstances. One crucial element of early childhood intervention in Germany are prevention networks at municipal level. The collaboration of healthcare professionals and child and youth welfare professionals in these networks aims to provide nonstigmatizing access to early childhood intervention for families with psychosocial burdens. From the point of view of the healthcare sector, the research program Together for Families (ZuFa Monitoring) of the National Centre on Early Prevention (NZFH) at the Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) has collected representative data at the interfaces of gynecology, obstetrics, pediatrics, and early childhood intervention since 2017.

GOAL

The background and goals, as well as design and methods of the ZuFa Monitoring studies are described. For obstetrics clinics and resident pediatricians, sample descriptions, including data on representativeness and early data regarding collaboration quality, are given.

EARLY RESULTS

The samples are representative for the population of obstetric clinics and resident pediatricians in Germany. At least two-thirds of the respondents indicate that the proportion of families with psychosocial burdens has increased. Care for psychosocially burdened families is regarded as challenging due to a lack of time, limited financial compensation, and aggravating conditions, such as language barriers. Respondents expect early childhood intervention to alleviate their daily work.

DISCUSSION

ZuFa Monitoring collects data regarding the care for families with psychosocial burdens at the interface of the health and the child and youth welfare sector. The research program generates information on inhibitory as well as promoting factors, thereby informing the further development and expansion of prevention networks at the municipal level, and heightening the quality of care for families in the health sector.

[Midwives and Nurses in Early Childhood Intervention: The Benefit of Additional Qualification]

Midwives and Nurses in Early Childhood Intervention: The Benefit of Additional Qualification Abstract.

BACKGROUND

Early childhood interventions are locally and regionally organized support services for families from pregnancy until the end of the third year of life. The interventions promote diverse measures to enhance parental skills in order to improve developmental and living circumstances. Midwives and nurses with additional qualification support burdened families in early childhood intervention.

METHOD

Within a retrospective survey (standardized interviews, CAPI) mothers' (N = 298) perspective of the benefit of the home visiting support is assessed. Data from two groups were compared: (1) mothers in the care of a midwife or nurse with additional qualification (Gruppe_{GFK + Quali}) and (2) mothers cared for by a midwife or nurse without additional qualification (Gruppe_GFK).

RESULTS

(1) Families with weighted levels of psychosocial burdens reported an enhanced need for help. (2) Midwives and nurses with additional qualification support more frequently families with high levels of psychosocial burdens. (3) Mothers with care of midwives and nurses with additional qualification reported this support as more useful in relation to every day demands than mothers with regular care after birth (questionnaire for evaluation of the received support: Gruppe_{GFK + Quali}: mean = 2.57; Gruppe_GFK : mean = 1.97; t (121) = 2.799, p = .003).

CONCLUSION

The study complements results of national and international studies showing that families with high levels of psychosocial burdens accept home visiting support. Furthermore, this support seems to be useful. An increase of the offer and the additional qualification is recommended for improving the developmental and living conditions of families with psychosocial burdens.