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School-based sexual health education plays a key role in providing young people with the information, motivation, and skills needed to enhance their sexual health. However, the extent and quality of sexual health education curricula varies across Canada. Though parents' support is often considered when making curricular decisions, there is limited data examining parental attitudes towards sexual health education across Canada. In the current study, we examined parental attitudes towards school-based sexual health education in a national sample of Canadian parents. Using an online survey, we examined overall support for the inclusion of sexual health education in schools, perceived quality of the sexual health education children received, assessed support for 33 sexual health education topics, and determined if parental support varied across geographic regions. Participants were 2,000 parents with children attending elementary and/or secondary school in Canada. The majority of parents (85%) agreed that sexual health education should be taught in the schools. Support was high across all regions in Canada, ranging from 82% in Ontario to 91% in the Atlantic provinces. However, significantly fewer parents in Ontario and Quebec supported school-based sexual health education compared to other regions. Overall, parents want a wide variety of topics included in school-based sexual health education and support the teaching of foundational topics in the early and middle school grades. The current study is the first to use a national sample to examine parents' attitudes towards sexual health education in schools. Results can inform provincial/territorial health education policies and national sexual health promotion strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers' interest in the use of sex toys has increased in the past 10 years as products become more accepted in mainstream media, and incorporated into individuals' sexual scripts. Though researchers and health educators have emphasized the importance of sex toy use hygiene behaviours, few studies have addressed the extent to which individuals are sharing, cleaning and covering their sex toys. The current research examined 1) the prevalence, frequency, predictors, and types of sex toys use/used, 2) the prevalence/frequency of sex toy use hygiene behaviours (e.g., cleaning, sharing, covering) and 3) whether sex toy use hygiene behaviours were related to vulvovaginal health outcomes among a sample of Canadian participants. As part of a larger survey examining genital health and hygiene practices, 1435 participants across Canada completed an anonymous online survey. Prevalence of sex toy use was 52.3%. Sex toys users were more likely to report a bisexual, lesbian, queer or questioning identity and were more likely to report engaging in additional partnered sexual activities such as oral and anal sex. Participants used a wide variety of sex toys including vibrators, butt plugs, BDSM toys, and household items. Most participants indicated that they cleaned their sex toys regularly using soap and water and 21.7% reported sharing their sex toy(s) with a partner. Sex toy use is common among Canadian women and individuals report using a variety of sexual enhancement products. Implications for educators and medical practitioners working with sexually active clients are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]