A matter of facts... and more: an exploratory analysis of the content of sexuality education in The Netherlands

The Netherlands is often recognized for its approach to adolescent sexual health, noted by the country's low rates of teen pregnancy and high contraceptive use among young people. Different studies have compared the sexual health outcomes of youth in The Netherlands with those of young people in other developed countries, and, to varying degrees, have discussed determinants related to the observed differences. Many have concluded that comprehensive sexuality education is one of the key factors contributing to the positive sexual health outcomes in The Netherlands, but few studies have looked at how Dutch sex education policy is translated into action. There is a lack of information on the content of Dutch sexuality education materials and programs. Such information is necessary for a better understanding of sexuality education in The Netherlands. This article presents a comparison of sexual health outcomes of young people in The Netherlands and the United States using the latest available data. This is followed by results of a content analysis of sexuality education materials in The Netherlands and a case study of a widely used Dutch high school sexuality program.