Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research1735-906617720130116805805ENAssistant professor in Reproductive Health, Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Ahvaz Jondishapour University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz/ IranResearch Center for Patient Safety and Health Quality, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, IranPediatric Nursing Education Department, Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IranDepartment of Public Health, Research Center for Health Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, IranDepartment of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Health Sciences Research Center, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran20130116<p class="absparamep"><strong>Background:</strong> Despite so many unmet sexual health education (SHE) needs of adolescents, socio-cultural challenges have caused this issue to be ignored in different scoieties. This study investigated Iranian female adolescents&rsquo; experiences and perceptions with respect to SHE that they received at schools , and what they really needed, expected, and preferred.</p> <p class="absparamep"><strong>Materials and Methods:</strong> In this qualitative study, seven focus group discussions (44 adolescents) and 13 individual in-depth interviews were conducted among female adolescents aged 14&ndash;18 in Mashhad and Ahvaz, Iran, to explore adolescents&rsquo; experiences and perceptions towards SHE in Iranian schools. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.</p> <p class="absparamep"><strong>Results:</strong> Analyzing adolescents&rsquo; perspectives and experiences revealed their great dissatisfaction with SHE in schools. Emerged categories included: lack of obligation and priority for SHE, sexual reticence and evading, making adolescents frightened of sexual issues, inconsistency of SHE with adolescents&rsquo; needs, unqualified educators, and lack of appropriate educational materials.</p> <p class="absparamep"><strong>Conclusion:</strong> This study found some similarities between expectations of Iranian adolescents and those of adolescents from other cultures about an SHE program. Adolescents showed great abilities to appraise health services delivered for them, and so any program for sexual health promotion in adolescents ought to address adolescents&rsquo; needs, demands, and aspirations. Their contribution can provide insights for tailoring SHE programs for adolescents.</p> <p class="absparamep">&nbsp;</p> <p class="keywordstitlemep"><strong>Key words: </strong>Adolescents, female, Iran, qualitative<strong> </strong>research, reproductive health, sexual health education</p>http://ijnmr.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijnmr/article/view/805http://ijnmr.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijnmr/article/download/805/597