Swedish adolescents’ experiences of educational sessions at Youth Clinics

Planning sex and relationship health education suitable for adolescents is a pedagogical challenge.ObjectiveTo describe how secondary school pupils in Sweden experience health educational sessions at Youth Clinics.MethodsData were collected from six focus groups within 2 weeks of an educational session. The groups consisted of pupils aged 14–16 years from three cities. The participants were 29 adolescents divided into groups of girls (n = 15) and boys (n = 14) and the interviews were audio taped. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis.FindingsFive categories were identified: Impact of the educational session, The desirable educator, Didactic setup, Gender inequalities and Suitable age for the educational session. The adolescents were satisfied with the content of the education and the session was evaluated as a complement to school education. The educators were seen as competent with an ability to create a comfortable atmosphere which made it easier for participants to discuss the subject and ask questions. The session was experienced as secure which was appropriate for the intimate and personal subject and gender aspects were seen as influencing the conversation.ConclusionThis study can give an understanding of the needs and demands of adolescents which can be useful when planning and conducting sex and relationship health education.