SHIFTING PREFERANCES IN SEXUALITY EDUCATION AMONG LITHUANIAN YOUTH: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

Aim of the study. To evaluate changes in access to and preferences for sexuality education among Lithuanian youth aged 14–29 between 2017 and 2023. Methods. An anonymous online questionnaire was distributed via email and Facebook to student councils at 20 universities, 23 colleges, and 517 high schools across Lithuania. Results. A total of 1371 respondents (49.2%) reported receiving sexuality education at school, while 1308 (46.9%) had discussed reproductive health with their parents. Females were significantly more likely than males to report both attending school-based sexuality education and discussing the topic with family members (p < 0.05). The most preferred methods of receiving sexuality education were informative movies (57.8% in 2017 vs. 61.8% in 2023; p = 0.017) and social websites (35.3% in 2017 vs. 50.2% in 2023; p < 0.001). Preferences varied significantly by educational level and gender. However, satisfaction with the quality of school-based sexuality education remained low and did not improve over time. Conclusions. A substantial proportion of Lithuanian youth continue to lack comprehensive sexuality education at both school and home. Digital platforms are increasingly preferred as primary sources of sexual health information.