Demystifying Misconceptions: A Gender-Based Analysis of Senior High School Students’ Knowledge of Sex Education

Misconceptions about sex education continue to influence adolescents’ knowledge of reproductive health and relationships, even when formal instruction is provided. This study examined misconceptions and the level of knowledge of sex education among senior high school students in Pangasinan, Philippines, with emphasis on gender differences and predictive relationships. A quantitative descriptive-correlational design was employed with 110 respondents. Results showed a relatively balanced gender distribution, with 47.3% male and 52.7% female students. Findings revealed that students generally agreed with several misconception statements about sex education, indicating the persistence of inaccurate beliefs despite formal instruction. However, respondents demonstrated high to very high levels of understanding across four domains: human reproductive health, contraception and STI prevention, boundaries and healthy relationships, and gender roles and stereotypes. Correlation analysis indicated that gender had no significant relationship with either awareness of misconceptions or level of knowledge. Regression analysis further revealed that awareness of misconceptions significantly predicted students’ level of knowledge, whereas gender did not. These findings underscore that correcting misconceptions is not merely an instructional task but a critical step in empowering adolescents to make informed, responsible, and health-promoting decisions about their sexuality.