The African-American church: a potential forum for adolescent comprehensive sexuality education. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Click here to return to AIDSLINE main menu
DonateNow
Print this Article


The African-American church: a potential forum for adolescent comprehensive sexuality education.

J Adolesc Health. 2000 Apr;26(4):289-94. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/20200144
Coyne-Beasley T; Schoenbach VJ; Department of Pediatrics and Department of Internal Medicine,; School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,; 27599, USA.


Abstract: PURPOSE: To investigate the attitudes and beliefs of clergy from African-American churches towards sexuality education and the provision of sexuality education in their churches. METHODS: A pilot study was designed to survey a convenience sample of clergy leaders from African-American churches about their young adolescent members. The survey asked about priority health topics, prevalence of sexual and drug risk behavior and the clergy's desire for health education programs. The churches were located in a county (1990 population approximately 200,000, 40% African-American) in the southeastern United States. RESULTS: The respondents' highest priority issues were drugs, violence, HIV/AIDS, pregnancy and alcohol. Many (76%) had discussed one or more of these issues in church. All respondents wanted additional health seminars for their adolescents, though some clergy (30%) excluded some sexual topics (i.e., anal sex, bisexuality, homosexuality, masturbation, oral sex). Only 6% would make condoms available in their churches, but all would allow contraceptive education. CONCLUSIONS: Many African-American churches are open to including sexuality education among their health education offerings for young adolescents. The church should be considered as a potential forum for providing comprehensive sexuality education for African-American adolescents.


Keywords: JOURNAL ARTICLE Adolescence Adult Attitude Blacks/*PSYCHOLOGY/STATISTICS & NUMER DATA Child Christianity/*PSYCHOLOGY Clergy/PSYCHOLOGY/STATISTICS & NUMER DATA Female Human Male North Carolina Questionnaires Risk-Taking Sex Behavior/PSYCHOLOGY/STATISTICS & NUMER DATA *Sex Education/STATISTICS & NUMER DATA Socioeconomic Factors Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.KWDjournalarticleadolescenceadultattitudeblacks/KWDpsychology/statistics&numerdatachildchristianity/KWDpsychologyclergy/psychology/statistics&numerdatafemalehumanmalenorthcarolinaquestionnairesrisk-takingsexbehavior/psychology/statistics&numerdataKWDsexeducation/statistics&numerdatasocioeconomicfactorssupport,non-uKWDsKWDgov'tsupport,uKWDsKWDgov't,pKWDhKWDs
000730
A0071475

Copyright © 2000 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2000. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 2000. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .