eprintid: 11669
rev_number: 21
userid: 724
dir: disk0/00/01/16/69
datestamp: 2012-06-29 21:16:01
lastmod: 2016-11-15 13:57:10
status_changed: 2012-06-29 21:16:01
type: thesis_degree
metadata_visibility: show
contact_email: ari12@pitt.edu
item_issues_count: 0
eprint_status: archive
creators_name: Illes, Alexandra
creators_email: ari12@pitt.edu
creators_id: ARI12
title: How Young Adults Learned About Sexual Health
ispublished: unpub
divisions: sch_gsph_behavioralcommhealthsci
full_text_status: public
keywords: sexual health, education, parents, media, qualitative, young adults, adolescent, sexuality education, 
abstract: Quality sexual health education is a significant influence on how decisions are made throughout one’s life.  In order to make safe and healthy choices, like wearing condoms, getting tested for sexually transmitted infections, and being prepared for puberty, quality sexual health education is needed.  This qualitative study at the University of Pittsburgh involved interviews with a total of 11 people, nine females and two males.  All of the interviewees were college educated and ranged in age from 21 to 25 years old. Understanding the sources of people’s sexual health education is important because it can provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of current sexual health education practices, parental involvement, and media influence, and how these can be improved. Looking retrospectively at how young adults have received their sexual health education provides a critical look at how their knowledge has influenced their lives to this point, and what they now know on the subject.  Several public health relevant themes emerged in this study; sexual health education is needed and wanted earlier in life, should be provided in a realistic way, and should include parental involvement.  Inaccurate or inadequate sexual health education can lead to being unprepared for puberty, ignoring symptoms of sexually transmitted infections, and using contraceptives incorrectly.  When people are provided with correct, accurate and comprehensive sexual health information they can make better decisions, like being prepared for puberty, getting tested for sexually transmitted infections, and using contraceptives correctly.  
date: 2012-06-29
date_type: completed
pages: 38
institution: University of Pittsburgh
refereed: TRUE
etdcommittee_type: thesis_advisor
etdcommittee_type: committee_cochair
etdcommittee_type: committee_cochair
etdcommittee_name: Terry, Martha
etdcommittee_name: Felter, Elizabeth
etdcommittee_name: Kammerer, Candace
etdcommittee_email: materry@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_email: emfelter@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_email: cmk3@pitt.edu
etdcommittee_id: MATERRY
etdcommittee_id: EMFELTER
etdcommittee_id: CMK3
etd_defense_date: 2012-04-09
etd_approval_date: 2012-06-29
etd_submission_date: 2012-04-03
etd_release_date: 2012-06-29
etd_access_restriction: immediate
etd_patent_pending: FALSE
assigned_doi: doi:10.5195/pitt.etd.2012.11669
thesis_type: thesis
degree: MPH
citation:   Illes, Alexandra  (2012) How Young Adults Learned About Sexual Health.  Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.    (Unpublished)  
document_url: http://d-scholarship-dev.library.pitt.edu/11669/1/Illes_Thesis.pdf