Sex education as part of the valeological discipline "Health Pedagogy"

Abstract

The valeological discipline "Health Pedagogy" was developed and implemented in the educational process of Ukrainian higher non-medical education institutions in 2019. The discipline is intended for the formation of valeological competence, which consists in the ability to lead a healthy lifestyle, practice safe behavior and provide emergency assistance in critical situations. The medical component of the topic of sex education and family planning of the valeological discipline "Health Pedagogy" includes issues of safe and unsafe sex, fertility, prevention of unwanted pregnancies, infection with sexually transmitted diseases, abortion, anatomy and physiology of male and female genital organs, physiology of intercourse, contraception, normal and pathological pregnancy, childbirth, genetic aspects of fertilization and development of the embryo and fetus) and ethical issues of its teaching, which corresponds to the recommendations of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and a number of authoritative international organizations. Retrospective evaluation of archival learning materials (tests and questionnaires) for the topic "Sex education and family planning" of valeological disciplines "Basics of Medical Knowledge and Health-Saving" and "Health Pedagogy" of 180 students of three Kharkiv non-medical higher education institutions, bachelor's and master's degrees, who studied during 2004–2024 and formed valeological competence at a high level according to the quartile evaluation system (Q4[75÷100]%). It was found that 148 (82.2%) students formed the component of competence related to sex education and family planning at a high level (Q4[75÷100]%), 32 (17.8%) – at the average level (Q3[50÷75]%) (p<0.05%). It was concluded that the content, form of teaching, medical and psychological-pedagogical components of the topic on sex education and family planning of the valeological discipline "Health Pedagogy" allow forming the appropriate component of valeological competence at a high level.