OpenLB
Open Library of Bioscience
Advanced Search
BMC public health
Mar 24, 2025;25 (1): 1130.

Theory of planned behavior-based cross-sectional study of family sex education for preschoolers in China: rural-urban comparative analysis.

Rong Zhang, Lu Lu, Ying Yu, Zhongxian Zhou, Hua Xia, Run Yan, Yunli Ye
Author Information
  1. Rong Zhang: School of public health, Southwest Medical University, No. 1, Section 1, Xianglin Road, Longmatan District, Luzhou, 646000, China.
  2. Lu Lu: Zigong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zigong, 643000, China.
  3. Ying Yu: Jinjiang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinjiang, 362000, China.
  4. Zhongxian Zhou: Neijiang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Neijiang, 641100, China.
  5. Hua Xia: School of public health, Southwest Medical University, No. 1, Section 1, Xianglin Road, Longmatan District, Luzhou, 646000, China.
  6. Run Yan: School of public health, Southwest Medical University, No. 1, Section 1, Xianglin Road, Longmatan District, Luzhou, 646000, China.
  7. Yunli Ye: School of public health, Southwest Medical University, No. 1, Section 1, Xianglin Road, Longmatan District, Luzhou, 646000, China. yunliye072@swmu.edu.cn.
PMID: 40128703 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-025-22365-4

Abstract

PURPOSE: The impact of sexual assault or sexual health problems on children and their families due to poor sex education is severe and devastating. Herein, we examined the current status of Preschoolers' Family Sex Education (PFSE) program in Luzhou City, China, and the determinants of parents' practice, focusing on urban-rural differences.
METHODS: Using multistage randomized cluster sampling, 4322 parents were recruited from 24 kindergartens. A web-based, self-administered, anonymous questionnaire was used to measure parents' perceptions, attitudes, and practices regarding PFSE. Binary logistic regression was performed to analyze the determinants of parental implementation of PFSE.
RESULTS: The knowledge pass rate, positive attitude rate, and practice pass rate of PFSE among parents of preschoolers were only 47.15%, 34.42%, and 69.04%, respectively, and the rates in rural areas were significantly lower than those in urban areas. Parents' practices were weakest on physiology education and sexual health education. For the total population, PFSE knowledge, attitudes, sense of responsibility for family education, number of difficulties with sex education, support for PFSE, and age of child significantly influenced parents' PFSE practice pass rates. The determinants of urban parents' PFSE practices were similar to those of the total population, but rural parents' PFSE practices were also significantly influenced by left-behind child status.
CONCLUSION: The PFSE in Luzhou could be improved by increasing parents' attitudes and social communication, especially for those living in rural areas. Effective implementation and practices of PFSE require correcting the attitudes of parents, improving parents' sexual knowledge, and strengthening social communication so as to promote the sexual and reproductive health of children in China, especially those left behind in rural areas.

Keywords

China Family sex education Preschooler Theory of planned behavior (TPB)

References

  1. Reprod Health. 2017 Aug 25;14(1):103 [PMID: 28841895]
  2. Iran J Public Health. 2017 Jul;46(7):890-898 [PMID: 28845399]
  3. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2024 Feb;164(2):531-535 [PMID: 38219018]
  4. J Pediatr Nurs. 2023 Mar-Apr;69:e105-e113 [PMID: 36585347]
  5. J Sex Res. 2023 Sep;60(7):1034-1044 [PMID: 35503865]
  6. Front Public Health. 2022 May 18;10:892422 [PMID: 35664113]
  7. Appl Nurs Res. 2015 Aug;28(3):222-8 [PMID: 26094879]
  8. Patient Educ Couns. 2020 Feb;103(2):343-349 [PMID: 31451362]
  9. PLoS One. 2017 Jun 8;12(6):e0178743 [PMID: 28594874]
  10. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care. 2007 Jun;12(2):138-47 [PMID: 17559012]
  11. Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2020 Aug 24;34(4):249-256 [PMID: 32841158]
  12. Lancet Reg Health Am. 2024 Jan 29;30:100678 [PMID: 38322782]
  13. Reprod Health. 2020 Jun 1;17(1):84 [PMID: 32487257]
  14. Zhongguo Yi Xue Ke Xue Yuan Xue Bao. 2020 Aug 30;42(4):452-458 [PMID: 32895096]
  15. BMC Public Health. 2012 Jul 18;12:527 [PMID: 22809432]
  16. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health. 2012 Jul;43(4):997-1008 [PMID: 23077824]
  17. J Sex Res. 2005 May;42(2):119-29 [PMID: 16123842]
  18. Soc Work Public Health. 2017;32(5):355-368 [PMID: 28459382]
  19. Sex Reprod Healthc. 2021 Jun;28:100596 [PMID: 33550052]
  20. J Sex Res. 2022 Jan;59(1):122-134 [PMID: 34114908]
  21. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2024 Jan;53(1):14-25 [PMID: 38072008]
  22. BMC Public Health. 2021 Jul 21;21(1):1439 [PMID: 34289834]
  23. Sex Res Social Policy. 2023;20(1):1-17 [PMID: 34608403]
  24. Science. 2019 May 24;364(6442):711 [PMID: 31123112]
  25. Asia Pac J Public Health. 2015 Mar;27(2):NP2049-66 [PMID: 23417908]
  26. Zhongguo Yi Xue Ke Xue Yuan Xue Bao. 2024 Oct;46(5):666-670 [PMID: 39344901]
  27. BMC Nurs. 2023 Aug 1;22(1):253 [PMID: 37528437]
  28. Front Psychol. 2023 Feb 01;14:1096516 [PMID: 36818131]
  29. Health Educ Res. 2011 Oct;26(5):808-33 [PMID: 21474577]
  30. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Sep 16;18(18): [PMID: 34574683]
  31. BMC Public Health. 2020 May 14;20(1):692 [PMID: 32410684]
  32. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Sep 15;17(18): [PMID: 32942651]
  33. Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2023 Dec;31(2):2195140 [PMID: 37017582]
  34. Dialogues Health. 2022 Nov 23;2:100085 [PMID: 38515483]
  35. Medicine (Baltimore). 2019 May;98(19):e15576 [PMID: 31083234]
  36. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2024 Feb;37(1):5-6 [PMID: 38245194]
  37. Eur J Public Health. 2016 Feb;26(1):18-23 [PMID: 26538550]
  38. Public Health Nurs. 2022 Jan;39(1):116-125 [PMID: 33949703]
  39. Am Fam Physician. 2010 Nov 15;82(10):1233-8 [PMID: 21121534]
  40. Lancet Infect Dis. 2016 Jan;16(1):26 [PMID: 26738835]
  41. Reprod Health Matters. 2014 May;22(43):53-64 [PMID: 24908456]
  42. Eur J Psychol. 2020 Aug 31;16(3):352-356 [PMID: 33680187]
  43. J Adolesc Health. 2021 Jan;68(1):13-27 [PMID: 33059958]
  44. BMC Public Health. 2010 Feb 03;10:56 [PMID: 20128901]
  45. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2020 Jun;51(3):343-354 [PMID: 31813063]
  46. Children (Basel). 2023 Feb 20;10(2): [PMID: 36832538]
  47. Children (Basel). 2022 Aug 11;9(8): [PMID: 36010096]
  48. Child Health Nurs Res. 2019 Jul;25(3):312-323 [PMID: 35004423]
  49. Psychol Health. 2011 Sep;26(9):1113-27 [PMID: 21929476]
  50. Indian J Psychol Med. 2023 May;45(3):292-296 [PMID: 37152376]
  51. Children (Basel). 2021 Oct 03;8(10): [PMID: 34682150]
  52. Glob J Health Sci. 2014 Jul 29;7(1):35-45 [PMID: 25560329]
  53. Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2007 Jun;39(2):116-9 [PMID: 17565625]

Grants

  1. SXJYB2104/the Research Center for Sociology of Sexuality and Sex Education of Sichuan Provincial Education Department
  2. 2021SKQN03/Southwest Medical University
  3. SCTJ-2023-B11/Sichuan Special Education Development Research Center

MeSH Term

Humans
China
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Rural Population
Male
Urban Population
Child, Preschool
Sex Education
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Parents
Surveys and Questionnaires
Adult
Theory of Planned Behavior
Journal Article Comparative Study

Word Cloud

Similar Articles

Cited By