Peer-led approach to sex education in school has limited impact compared with teacher-led education

Question

Do peer-led sex and relationship education programmes reduce unsafe sex and unwanted pregnancies compared with traditional teacher-led sex education in schools?

Study design

Randomised controlled trial.

Main results

There were no significant differences between intervention and control schools in the proportion of pupils reporting unprotected first heterosexual intercourse by 16 years of age (difference in cumulative proportion: −0.8%, 95% CI −3.5 to 1.8; $p=0.53$). At 18 months follow up, peer-led education improved pupils’ satisfaction with their sex education compared with teacher-led education ($p=0.001$). Peer-led education non-significantly reduced unwanted pregnancies ($p=0.07$). Following intervention, girls were less likely to report having had sexual intercourse by 16 years ($p=0.0008$), although the difference was not significant for boys ($p=0.35$) (see results table).

Authors’ conclusions

Peer-led sex education in schools only modestly improved sexual behaviour. Young people report that they learn most about sex outside school. Wider strategies of education such as media and service delivery need to be assessed.