Experience with an Internet-based, theoretically grounded educational resource for the promotion of sexual and reproductive health

The current article reports on the development and utilization of an Internet-based, theoretically-grounded educational resource for the promotion of sexual and reproductive health. Based on the Information-Motivation-Behavioural Skills (1MB) model of health behaviour change (J. Fisher & Fisher, 1992; W. Fisher & Fisher, 1993), and exploiting characteristics of the Internet that are uniquely suited to sexual and reproductive health promotion communication, a comprehensive, content-rich, dual-language website (www.sexualityandu.ca-www.masexualite.ca) was launched on 1 November, 2001. Follow-up data, collected six to eight months after website launch, showed that the site was widely and intensively used by Internet surfers worldwide. Over 1000 visitors per day took advantage of a variety of website sections and functions dealing with sexual and reproductive health issues and remained on the site for an average of 11 minutes. Surfers' use of three interactive quizzes, that provided immediate educational feedback, was also extensive. These experiences provide a basis for further development of sexual and reproductive health promotion resources which are theoretically guided and which exploit characteristics of the Internet uniquely suited to this objective.