Intervention proposal “Soy capaz” (“I am capable”) and teacher empowerment for sex education

Abstract

Sex education in Mexico has been limited to providing information on biological and reproductive issues without considering psychological aspects. Sex education topics are delegated to teachers even though they report not having sufficient knowledge, pedagogical or psychological skills. The aim of this paper is to present the “Soy capaz” (“I am capable”) intervention proposal, based on the Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) in order to increase knowledge about teenage pregnancy, STIs and HIV, positive behaviors, self-efficacy, and skills in sex education. It addresses the  teachers’ position on sex education, explains how SCT underpins the study variables, and presents the intervention proposal. The results of the pilot test show that teachers rated this proposal positively in all the items: liking it, usefulness, satisfaction, expectations, and recommendation to colleagues.