Sexperts – Canada – Québec (IFMSA-Québec)

Name of the activity: Sexperts

Country/NMO: Canada – Québec (IFMSA-Québec)

Program: Comprehensive Sexuality Education

Contact information: [email protected]

Type of the activity: Education

General description:

Sexperts is a peer-to-peer education program axed around the development of youth sexual awareness on topics such as consent, contraception, pregnancy, STIs, healthy relationships, peer pressure, pornography, puberty, sexual identity and gender orientation. We aim to complement what has been done in schools and to build on the students’ experience and knowledge to foster optimal sexual and reproductive health from a prevention point of view.

Focus area:

Peer Education with adolescents and young people on a variety of topics pertaining to Sexual Health

Problem statement:

With the rise of gonorrhoea and chlamydia rates at an alarming pace in Quebec, especially among adults from age 15 to 24, coupled with the growing resistance of these infections to traditional antibiotics and the lack of any kind of sexual education program since the Education reform of the early 2000s, a sexual education project is more than necessary for sexual and public health purposes, not only for prevention purposes, but to offer adolescents proper information and knowledge about various sexual and relationship topics, particularly in Quebec’s context.

Target groups and beneficiaries:

Students in grades 9 through 11 (no grade 12 in Québec’s high school system)
General population at large

Objectives and indicators of success:

Assess prior knowledge of students on the topic
– Elicited student participation when questioned about their knowledge
– Discuss with teachers and relevant school personnel about what has been taught and about overall impression with follow-up

Provide relevant information on primary and important sexual health and relationship topics
– Feedback assessment through Google forms and summary quiz at the end of the presentation
– Positive and filled comments/questions on sheet of paper handed out at the beginning of each presentation

Provide resources and follow-up opportunities for students in case they have questions
– Offer students our project’s contact information and online resources/presentations

Methodology:

We strive to offer quality, relevant and up to date information on STI prevention and optimal sexual practices as well as opening discussions on relationships. Our manual is validated by sexologists as well as family doctors and the Google forms we have set up greatly help us improve on our weaknesses. We also strive to encourage student participation through creative and enjoyable activities to assess what has already been taught to students and to better adapt our content and presentations accordingly.

Plans for evaluation:

We have set up post activity Google forms for both teachers and students to assess relevance of the presentations, content and level of interest.