96709 Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
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particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Postgraduate
Result type: Grade and marksThere are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
In this subject, students explore adolescent sexual and reproductive health from developmental, sociocultural, and public and population health perspectives. The subject brings together theory and practice from developmental psychology, neuroscience and biology; sociology; ethics; epidemiology and health promotion. Students learn about biopsychosocial development in the second decade of life including sexual identity development; the sociocultural construction of sexuality and its relevance to adolescents, and the patterns of partnered sexual activity and the epidemiology of sexual and reproductive health in adolescence. Using the ecological model of health and wellbeing, students examine the social and cultural determinants of sexual and reproductive health in adolescents, focusing on legal and ethical challenges in relation to youth. Population level interventions to promote sexual and reproductive adolescent health including those in health promotion, school education and in preventive health and medicine are explored. Learning activities and assessments require personal reflection, active participation in group discussions, and a scholarly approach to understanding potentially unfamiliar concepts from a range of disciplines. This subject is suitable for clinicians, public health practitioners, policy makers and educators.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| A. | Explain the relationship between human sexual development in adolescence and sexual and reproductive health and wellbeing, and health outcomes |
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| B. | Appraise the social construction of sexuality as it applies to adolescents |
| C. | Investigate legal, ethical and policy issues that influence the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents |
| D. | Contrast sexual and reproductive health outcomes for different populations of adolescents using the ecological model of health |
| E. | Adapt principles of health promotion to create effective sexuality education programs |
| F. | Design a model for sexual and reproductive health care for adolescents |
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
GA1. Critical Thinking
Demonstrate reflective critical thinking to enable critical appraisal of current practice, policy and research with the aim to enhance health care and health care outcomes, and transform health
GA2. Leadership
Are effective, collaborative and responsive health professionals and potential leaders in a particular health field
GA3. Accountability
Are socially, culturally and ethically accountable when engaging with individuals, families, interdisciplinary teams, communities, organisations and jurisdictions
GA4. Communication
Communicate effectively and appropriately in challenging, complex and diverse situations
GA5. Professional Qualities
Embody the international standard of professional qualities appropriate to the scope of their role in regional, national and global health
GA6. Indigenous Cultural Respect
Demonstrate professional cultural competency which contributes to the health and well-being of Indigenous Australians, inclusive of physical, social, emotional and spiritual wellness
Teaching and learning strategies
In this subject, students will participate in a range of teaching and learning strategies that are designed to develop learning in Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health principles and scholarship.
Teaching and learning will take place entirely online. Students are expected to engage with one another online, including through assessed discussion forums, as well as with their Subject Coordinator and Teachers.
In online Discussion forums, students reflect on their own experiences in a confidential and professional environment, answer questions and respond to other students through online discussions. The Subject lends itself to rich discussion and debate about ethical issues, values, children and young people’s rights and women’s rights and their real world application for adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health.
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Online discussions
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Students read papers, listen to podcasts or watch film clips and reflect on the health issues presented in order to respond to key questions and with other students in on-line forums.
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Online learning guide
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This subject benefits from the provision of on line learning guide. The guide provides students with an overall plan for the subject and learning strategies and resources to enable achievement of expected learning outcomes for each week of semester. The guide includes preparatory activities, lecture overviews, weekly readings, Zoom meeting schedules. Access to websites, online videos and literature contribute to these learning resources.
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Content (topics)
Module 1: Understanding and constructing adolescent sexuality
- biopsychosocial aspects of adolescent development
- the contribution of neuroscience to understanding adolescent development and behaviour
- the social construction of sexuality and its importance in adolescence
- proximal and distal influences on adolescent sexuality
Module 2: Epidemiology of adolescent sexual and reproductive health
- sexual behaviour in adolescents
- sexual and reproductive health indicators and outcomes
- adolescent populations that are vulnerable
- global perspectives on adolescent sexual and reproductive health
Module 3: An ecological framework for adolescent sexual and reproductive health
- laws pertaining to access to contraception and safe abortion, laws affecting sexuality and gender diverse populations
- access to sexual and reproductive health care for adolescents
- the rights of children and young people to education and reproductive health care
- health promotion and its application in adolescent sexual and reproductive health
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Discussion Forums
| Intent: | The real-world practice of adolescent sexual and reproductive health policy, education, health promotion and service delivery requires excellent communication skills and a rights-based approach to adolescent sexuality. A powerful way to learn how to have respectful conversations, think critically about relevant health issues and develop professionalism in an area of public and population health that can be challenging, is to engage in structured discussion and debate in a safe and moderated environment. The Discussion Forum topics will reflect the Subject’s learning outcomes. |
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| Weight: | 25% |
| Length: | Participation in five online Discussion Forums over Weeks 1 - 11, including 1 x 150 word posts plus 2 x 50 word responses per forum |
Assessment task 2: Critical analysis of course reading
| Intent: | This task assesses students’ critical thinking skills and requires demonstration of their understanding of research methods as well as research translation. |
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| Weight: | 35% |
| Length: | 1000 words. |
Assessment task 3: Position Paper
| Intent: | This assignment requires students to use evidence based public health approaches to advocacy through written communication of research findings. Students will take positions and make policy and/ or practice recommendations that are backed by evidence, within a children and young people’s rights framework. |
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| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | 1200 words plus references. |
Recommended texts
Temple-Smith, M., Moore, S. & Rosenthal, D., 2016, Sexuality in Adolescence: the digital generation, Routledge, UK.
Other resources
UTS Student Centre
Building 10
Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm
Tel: 1300 ASK UTS (1300 275 887)
Details for student centres: www.uts.edu.au/current-students/contacts/general-contacts
For other resources/ information refer to the Faculty of Health website (www.uts.edu.au/about/faculty-health), the Health Student Guide (www.uts.edu.au/sites/default/files/uts-health-student-guide.pdf) and UTSOnline at: https://online.uts.edu.au/webapps/login/
UTS Library
The Library has a wide range of resources, facilities and services to support you including textbooks, subject readings, health literature databases, workshops and bookable study rooms. There is also a team of librarians to help you with your questions available via online chat, phone and in person. W: lib.uts.edu.au, Facebook: utslibrary, Twitter: @utslibrary Tel: (02) 9514 3666.
Improve your academic and English language skills
Marks for all assessment tasks such as assignments and examinations are given not only for what you write but also for how you write. If you would like the opportunity to improve your academic and English language skills, make an appointment with the HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support) Service in Student Services.
HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support)
HELPS provides assistance with English language proficiency and academic language. Students who need to develop their written and/or spoken English should make use of the free services offered by HELPS, including academic language workshops, vacation intensive courses, drop-in consultations, individual appointments and Conversations@UTS (www.ssu.uts.edu.au/helps). HELPS staff are also available for drop-in consultations at the UTS Library. Phone (02) 9514 9733.
Please see www.uts.edu.au for additional information on other resources provided to students by UTS.