Accessibility and Inclusivity in Sexual Health Education Content

Reproductive and sexual health education is fundamental in fostering informed communities and thereby promoting public health, especially for marginalized groups often overlooked by traditional curricula. Accessibility and inclusivity in sexual health education remain pivotal in ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to receive comprehensive, culturally competent, and sensitive information regardless of their socio-economic status, cultural background, sexual orientation, gender identity, neurological differences, age, or abilities. Many communities still face significant barriers to accessing sexual health education, which can perpetuate disparities in health outcomes and reinforce stigma. Addressing these challenges is crucial in the quest to provide equal health education for all.

This Research Topic aims to broaden the scope and impact of sexual health education by focusing on innovative, inclusive educational strategies and policies across multiple educational levels (primary/elementary, secondary/high school, collegiate, professional health programs, continuing education) and for diverse populations. It seeks to understand how tailored approaches can help bridge gaps in accessibility and improve inclusivity throughout the lifespan. The goal is also to evaluate the effectiveness of current strategies and explore new methods in delivering sexual health education that are developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive, and contextually relevant, especially for underserved and marginalized populations. To gather further insights in this critical area, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Development and evaluation of inclusive curricula and resources in sexual health education across educational levels (primary, secondary, post-secondary, and continuing education)
• Specialized approaches to sexual health education for neurodivergent populations, particularly individuals with autism spectrum disorder
• Age-appropriate sexual health education models for adults (for example: long-term care settings)
• Accessible sexual health education strategies for people with various physical, cognitive, and sensory abilities
• Impact of digital technologies on the accessibility of sexual health education for diverse learners
• Evaluation of policy and legal frameworks and their impact on accessibility and inclusivity in health education across different educational systems
• Case studies of successful community-engaged sexual health education programs
• Comparative studies of sexual health education practices across different cultural contexts and educational systems
• Interprofessional approaches to sexual health education in healthcare professional programs
• Evaluation of inclusive sexual health education outcomes across diverse population groups

Contributions may include original research, review articles, methodological studies, program evaluations, case studies, and theoretical frameworks, promising to provide a comprehensive perspective on how inclusivity and accessibility can be effectively integrated into sexual health education across the lifespan and for diverse populations. This Research Topic will lay a foundation for future initiatives and policy-making that ensure equitable access to health education for all.