Evaluation of Girls' Talk, sexuality education for lower education girls

Abstract

Girls are more at risk for sexual disease and -abuse than boys. Girls with lower education or immigrant parents are more at risk than indiginous girls with higher education. Girls' Talk is a group counseling program aimed at decreasing their risk by increasing knowledge about sexuality, sexual self-esteem and assertiveness. Effects were measured using self-report questionnaires among 210 participants aged between 14 and 20. Follow up (N = 104) after 4 months yielded a 15% decrease of sexual abuse experiences in the last 6 months in experimental group (5% decrease in control), and a 10% decrease of experience with being pressured by boys to perform sexual acts (5% increase in control). However, these results were not significant, probably due to drop-out (50% in experimental, 30% in control). Participants associated positive emotions with the program. A qualitative study aimed at clarifying the quantitative results ensued. Participants (N = 13) of the Girls' Talk program were interviewed in-depth about the perceived effects of the program. Results of this study indicate that motivation to participate influences attributions of behavior change to the program.