School-based sex education programmes have been implemented in South Africa to address adolescent sexual behaviors and reproductive health outcomes. A comprehensive search strategy was employed, including electronic databases and grey literature. Studies were assessed for methodological quality using predefined criteria. Findings indicate that school-based sex education programmes in South Africa have led to a modest reduction in unintended pregnancies (OR = 0.87, CI: 0.79-0.96). Despite some evidence of effectiveness, further research is needed to understand the long-term impacts and optimal programme design. Future studies should explore the contextual factors influencing programme success and consider strategies for enhancing adolescent engagement with these programmes.
Nelson Motsameto Wandisa (Sat,) studied this question.