Promoting sexuality education through an online interactive game: reaching youngsters without limits (Symposia)

Abstract

This paper describes a project which aims to disseminate correct knowledge and positive attitudes towards sex to teenagers using an interactive game playable on popular interactive platforms such as iPad, Facebook and the web. 1176 junior secondary students (Forms 1-3) from six schools were introduced to the game through on-site game sessions conducted by the research team and members from the Family Planning Association. Pre-and-post tests were conducted to measure the enhancement of students’ knowledge on safe sex. The effectiveness of the game was examined through focus group interviews and surveys. The findings indicate that students’ sex knowledge improved with a high medium effect size after playing the game. An increase of positive attitude towards sex and relationships as well as an enhanced awareness of making smart sexual choices were also observed. The contributing factors which make the interactive game successful and insights on how others might replicate the work in other disciplines in the future are addressed.