All subject areas pertinent to sexual health are addressed with the intent of reaching the widest possible audience. The guideline statements in this section elaborate on the principle of comprehensiveness as it applies to effective sexual health education. Effective sexual health education at elementary and secondary school levels is taught within specific programs and linked to related curriculum areas that touch upon sexuality, relationships and personal development. For example, the sexual health concerns of elderly people in retirement homes or long-term care facilities may require an integrated approach that addresses access to information and counselling, staff attitudes and training, institutional policies, and physical arrangements that ensure the right to privacy. Comprehensiveness in effective sexual health education implies attention to the needs of different groups and to the variety of issues relevant to the sexual health of individuals within any group.
Adolescence is only one phase in a life-long process of sexual development and learning.
Adolescent sexuality is a central and positive part of the total well-being of young people. Therefore, comprehensive sexual health education for adolescents involves far more than the prevention of unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Effective school-based sexual health education for adolescents provides information and opportunities to develop personal insight, motivation and skills pertinent to their current and future needs. Effective sexual health education is an integral component of a comprehensive sexuality education program. It should be offered sequentially from the beginning of the elementary school years to the last of the high school years.