Comparative Assessment of School-Based Adolescent Health Education Programmes in South African Schools: Sexual Health Attitudes and Practices

Adolescent health education programmes in South African schools aim to improve sexual health attitudes and practices among students. The study compares two distinct school-based adolescent health education programmes by analysing pre- and post-programme surveys administered to a sample of South African high school students. A notable proportion (35%) of respondents reported an improvement in their sexual health knowledge after participating in the programme, with significant differences observed between schools implementing different curricula. The findings suggest that tailored educational interventions can positively influence adolescent sexual health outcomes. Schools should consider integrating a comprehensive curriculum with regular updates to ensure sustained benefits for students' sexual health education.