The authors conducted a systematic literature review of three decades of research on school-based programs to find evidence for the effectiveness of comprehensive sex education.
The study found that there is support for programs that use a gender-transformative approach to promote more equitable relationships among genders. Such programs make discussions of gender in the context of power and the promotion of gender equality and women's empowerment, central to an intervention. Studies of this approach showed reduced adherence to gender norms and gender-related power structures. Such programs also had notable positive impacts on sexual health, personal safety, and bystander intentions.
