Date of Submission

Summer 8-12-2025

Document Type

Manuscript

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Dr. Victoria Chaudhary

Second Advisor

Dr. Jo Loomis

Abstract

Background: Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education is a critical component of early health literacy and health promotion. Yet, there are no federal education requirements for sexuality education in the United States, leading to inconsistent and inadequate instruction.

Methods: In an effort to better understand the barriers beyond policy variability that affect successful implementation of SRH education, a literature search was conducted on CINAHL and ERIC with the following search terms and Boolean operators: (sex* education OR reproductive educat*) AND (elementary school OR school based) AND (United States OR California). The years of publication were limited to the past five years (i.e. 2020 to 2025) and the inclusion criteria focused on school-based SRH education in the United States, ultimately leading to 12 articles for the literature review.

Results: While educators and healthcare providers both acknowledge the importance of initiating SRH education at a young age, both groups remain underprepared to deliver this education effectively due to inadequate training, lack of institutional support, curriculum variability, and limited resources.

Conclusions: There is evidence that supports collaborative, community-based methods to mitigate the need for increased SRH literacy, including existing programs and guidance by theoretical frameworks. It would be worthwhile for future initiatives to focus on collaborating with key stakeholders under the guidance of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model to develop and implement sustainable SRH curricula that aligns with the National Sex Education Standards.

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