Do Information Technologies Improve Teenagers’ Sexual Education? Evidence from a Randomized Evaluation in Colombia

Chong, Alberto; Gonzalez-Navarro, Marco; Karlan, Dean; Valdivia, Martín

doi:10.1093/wber/lhy031

Publication: Do Information Technologies Improve Teenagers’ Sexual Education? Evidence from a Randomized Evaluation in Colombia

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Date

2020-06

ISSN

1564-698X

Published

2020-06

Author(s)

Chong, Alberto

Gonzalez-Navarro, Marco

Karlan, Dean

Valdivia, Martín

Abstract

This study reports results from a randomized evaluation of a mandatory six-month Internet-based sexual education course implemented across public junior high schools in 21 Colombian cities. Six months after finishing the course, the study finds a 0.4 standard deviation improvement in knowledge, a 0.2 standard deviation improvement in attitudes, and a 55 percent increase in the likelihood of redeeming vouchers for condoms as a result of taking the course. The data provide no evidence of spillovers to control classrooms within treatment schools. However, the analysis provides compelling evidence that treatment effects are enhanced when a larger share of a student's friends also takes the course. The low cost of the online course along with the effectiveness the study documents suggests this technology is a viable alternative for improving sexual education in middle-income countries.

Citation

“Chong, Alberto; Gonzalez-Navarro, Marco; Karlan, Dean; Valdivia, Martín. 2020. Do Information Technologies Improve Teenagers’ Sexual Education? Evidence from a Randomized Evaluation in Colombia. World Bank Economic Review. © Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the World Bank. http://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/36715?show=full License: CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 IGO.”