Sexual Knowledge, Sexual Attitudes, and Perceptions and Actualities of Sex Education among Elementary School Parents

Abstract

Purpose This study was conducted to understand sexual knowledge, sexual attitudes, and the perceptions and actualities of sex education among parents of elementary school children. Methods This is a descriptive study with a sample size of 337. SPSS version 21.0 was used for data analysis, including descriptive analyses, the t-test, and Pearson correlation analysis. Results More than 50% of the participants responded that primary sex education for young children should be the responsibility of the parents and that education should be stared during the elementary school period. A moderate correlation was found between parents’ sexual knowledge and sexual attitudes (r=.44). Most parents were afraid to provide sex education because of their unfamiliarity with teaching methods and their lack of knowledge. However, 50 of the parents wanted to receive sex-related education. Conclusion We found that parents would like to learn more about sex education from expert lectures or professional organizations. They were interested in topics including the sexual structure of males/females and sexual physiology. Open communication between parents and their children regarding sex-related issues is important. It is crucial to provide accurate and up-to-date sex education information to parents so that they can effectively teach their children at home.

Keywords

• Attitude
• Knowledge
• Schools
• Sex education
• Parents