Where Are the Guys in Peer Education? A Survey of Peer Education Programs Related to Adolescent Sexual Health in New York State

This investigation is concerned with adolescent male participation in sexual health peer education programs. Research questions focused on identifying the percentages of male peer educators in these programs, exploring the relationship between financial compensation and male participation, and identifying male-specific recruitment strategies, if any, used by program coordinators. Data were collected via a telephone survey of program staff. The results indicate a significant difference between the average percentages of males and females in these programs. In addition, programs which provide a monetary stipend do not have a significantly higher average percentage of male peer educators than programs which do not. These results raise important questions about the nature and prevalence of the barriers that discourage many young men from being sexual health peer educators.