Rebecca Meiksin
Biographic Data
| ID | 130435 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Rebecca Meiksin |
| GIVEN NAMES | Rebecca |
| FAMILY NAME | Meiksin |
| SIGNATURE | MEIKSIN R |
| AFFILIATIONS | London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-5096-8576 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 25 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 10 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 25 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2014 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
The association of positive educational experiences with adolescents’ depressive symptoms
Introduction The school environment influences adolescent health through both individual experiences, such as one’s own engagement with school, and broader school-level factors, such as aggregate student levels of engagement, affecting all students. For mental-health outcomes, existing evidence more consistently supports individual-level influences than school-level effects. In relation to depression, negative student-level educational experience…
“It's Not a One Size Fits All”
Abortion care in Britain has undergone significant transformation in recent years, with increasing use of medication, home management, and telemedicine. However, provision remains predominantly through specialist standalone clinics, particularly in England. Drawing on the interlinking frameworks of abortion exceptionalism, stigma, and quality of care, we analyzed 48 qualitative interviews with people who recently had abortions to explore how serv…
Factors affecting the implementation of a whole-school relationships and sexual health intervention
Whole-school relationships and sexual health interventions represent promising approaches to promoting healthy sexual development. However, data from a randomised controlled trial of the Positive Choices whole-school intervention demonstrate these may be challenging to implement in English secondary schools. We draw on qualitative data to examine staff perspectives on the implementation of the intervention and the factors affecting delivery. Inte…
Understanding the limited effectiveness of a whole-school relationships and sexual-health programme
Previous trials of whole-school relationships and sexual-health programmes have not reported on fidelity, reach or acceptability, despite the importance of these factors for interpreting outcomes. Our trial of the Positive Choices whole-school relationships and sexual-health programme found limited effectiveness in secondary schools in England. We aimed to understand whether sub-optimal fidelity, reach or acceptability might explain the results. …
Effects of a whole-school relationships and sexual health intervention on non-competent sexual debut
BACKGROUND: Relationships and sex education (RSE) impacts some sexual behaviours but could be strengthened by incorporating whole-school approaches (eg, building engagement, providing contraception). These can prevent pregnancies and sexually-transmitted infections but are unevaluated in UK schools. METHODS: A cluster-randomised trial of 'Positive Choices' compared it with usual practice in English secondary schools. Intervention comprised: RSE, …
Comprehensive sexuality education addressing gender and power
Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), including critical reflection on gender norms and unfavourable power relations, has been theorised to affect various health and social outcomes among adolescents. This systematic review aimed to synthesise evidence on the effectiveness of school-based CSE addressing gender and power topics on adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and relationships outcomes. We screened six databases for evaluat…
The implementation of compulsory relationships and sex education in English secondary schools
The quality of sex education varies. In England from 2020, the government attempted to improve provision by making lessons a statutory requirement. We assessed implementation in 25 secondary schools in 2022–23, framed by May’s general theory of implementation. This identifies processes of sense-making, cognitive participation, collective action and reflexive monitoring, influenced by an intervention’s capability, stakeholder potential (individual…
Sexual Harassment in Early Adolescence
There is little research on sexual harassment among younger adolescents or on how rates vary by gender and other student/school characteristics. Drawing on data from 50 English schools, we explored the prevalence and patterning of victimization in the past year among students aged 12-13. Of 7,060 participants, almost a tenth had experienced sexual harassment. Girls, non-binary students, and sexual-minority students reported the highest rates. Stu…
I'm Pregnant, What Do I Do
Background Accurate, timely, and supportive information is important for high‐quality abortion care. Limited research explores how people find and use online sources of information (OSI) during the abortion process, particularly in Britain. Understanding experiences of using OSI is important for the development of person‐centered services and resources. Methods We conducted a thematic analysis of qualitative data from 41 semi‐structured interview…
The mechanisms by which a whole-school intervention might improve sexual health
Whole-school interventions go beyond classroom education, promoting health by modifying school environments. These can be effective in delaying sexual debut and increasing contraception use but mechanisms are poorly understood. Qualitative research within realist evaluation can explore mechanisms via building 'context-mechanism-outcome configurations', describing how interventions trigger mechanisms that interact with context to generate outcomes…
Social norms relating to gender and dating and relationship violence in English secondary schools
Dating and relationship violence (DRV) among young people is widespread. DRV is associated with subsequent mental ill health, substance use and sexual risk among girls and boys and is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among girls globally. Harmful social norms are widely recognised for their role in sustaining DRV, and interventions often seek to change these. However, little evidence is available to suggest which specific norms are most…
Social Norms About Dating and Relationship Violence and Gender Among Adolescents
Adolescent dating and relationship violence (DRV) is widespread and associated with increased risk of subsequent poor mental health outcomes and partner violence. Shifting social norms (i.e., descriptive norms of perceived behavior and injunctive norms of acceptable behavior among a reference group of important others) may be important for reducing DRV. However, few DRV studies assess norms, measurement varies, and evidence on measure quality is …
Student-reported relationships and sex education coverage and knowledge among a diverse population of early adolescents
Student-reported quality and coverage of school-based relationships and sex education (RSE) vary, with gender/sexual-minority and disadvantaged students reporting poorer provision. Experience of RSE among younger adolescents is under-explored. We examined student-reported RSE coverage and priorities and how coverage, and sexual-health knowledge and awareness of services, varies between students and schools. The data came from a pre-intervention s…
Comprehensive Sex Education Addressing Gender and Power
Testing and refining middle-range theory in evaluations of public-health interventions
Evaluations of public-health interventions might potentially be used to test and refine middle-range theory (ie, theory about the mechanisms, which generate outcomes that is analytically generalisable enough to span a range of contexts, interventions or outcomes, but specific enough to be salient in a given application). This approach has been suggested as one means of developing more informed assessments of how different interventions work and w…
Adolescent girls’ perceived readiness for sex in Central Uganda - liminal transitions and implications for sexual and reproductive health interventions
Young women in Uganda are at risk of negative sexual and reproductive health outcomes, in part because of sex with older men. Theoretically grounded in the concept of liminality, this paper examines perceived markers of adolescent girls' suitability for sexual activity. In 2014, we conducted 19 focus group discussions and 44 in-depth interviews in two communities in Uganda. Interviews were conducted using a semi-structured tool, audio-recorded an…
Enacting whole‐school relationships and sexuality education in England
Evidence from intervention evaluations suggests that achieving meaningful and lasting social, behavioural and attitudinal change from relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) in schools requires more than just a curriculum. Whole‐school approaches appear particularly promising since they work at multiple levels. For instance, they may: engage with carers, communities and local services; address iniquitous cultures and norms; change school p…
Restricting the advertising of high fat, salt and sugar foods on the Transport for London estate
Dilemmas of school-based relationships and sexuality education for and about consent
In 2018, reflecting in this journal on the arrival of the ‘age of consent’ into sexuality education, Jen Gilbert questioned what would happen to a concept drawn in part from legal contexts, but partly also driven by the passion of feminist activists, when it met the demands and logics – the learning outcomes and lesson plans – of the classroom. This article offers one response, drawing on qualitative data from two whole-school sexual health progr…
Capitalising on aspirations of adolescent girls and young women to reduce their sexual health risks
This paper explores adolescent girls' and young women's (AGYW) aspirations, factors that influence aspirations, and how their aspirations inform their sexual decision-making and behaviour. This study employed a qualitative design involving six participatory focus group discussions and 17 in-depth interviews with AGYW in - and out-of-school. Fieldwork was undertaken in rural and urban Tanzania. Thematic analysis was conducted using NVIVO software.…
Community perspectives on the extent to which transactional sex is viewed as sexual exploitation in Central Uganda
BACKGROUND: Definitions of child sexual exploitation vary. Sexual exploitation violates children's rights and exposes them to mental and physical harm. There exist differences in views of behaviour that is considered exploitative, including transactional sex. This paper explores community perspectives on the extent to which transactional sex is considered exploitative. METHODS: In 2014, we conducted 19 focus group discussions and 44 in-depth inte…
Implementing a whole-school relationships and sex education intervention to prevent dating and relationship violence
Adolescent dating and relationship violence is associated with health harms and is an important topic for sex education. School-based interventions addressing this have been effective in the USA, but schools in England confront pressures that might hinder implementation. We assessed the feasibility of, and contextual enablers/barriers to implementing Project Respect, a whole-school intervention. We conducted a pilot trial with process evaluation …
Associations between sex work laws and sex workers’ health
Racial Differences in Satisfaction with VA Health Care
Domestic Violence, Marital Control, and Family Planning, Maternal, and Birth Outcomes in Timor-Leste
Enacting whole‐school relationships and sexuality education in England
Evidence from intervention evaluations suggests that achieving meaningful and lasting social, behavioural and attitudinal change from relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) in schools requires more than just a curriculum. Whole‐school approaches appear particularly promising since they work at multiple levels. For instance, they may: engage with carers, communities and local services; address iniquitous cultures and norms; change school p…
Restricting the advertising of high fat, salt and sugar foods on the Transport for London estate
Effects of a whole-school relationships and sexual health intervention on non-competent sexual debut
BACKGROUND: Relationships and sex education (RSE) impacts some sexual behaviours but could be strengthened by incorporating whole-school approaches (eg, building engagement, providing contraception). These can prevent pregnancies and sexually-transmitted infections but are unevaluated in UK schools. METHODS: A cluster-randomised trial of 'Positive Choices' compared it with usual practice in English secondary schools. Intervention comprised: RSE, …
I'm Pregnant, What Do I Do
Background Accurate, timely, and supportive information is important for high‐quality abortion care. Limited research explores how people find and use online sources of information (OSI) during the abortion process, particularly in Britain. Understanding experiences of using OSI is important for the development of person‐centered services and resources. Methods We conducted a thematic analysis of qualitative data from 41 semi‐structured interview…
Social norms relating to gender and dating and relationship violence in English secondary schools
Dating and relationship violence (DRV) among young people is widespread. DRV is associated with subsequent mental ill health, substance use and sexual risk among girls and boys and is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among girls globally. Harmful social norms are widely recognised for their role in sustaining DRV, and interventions often seek to change these. However, little evidence is available to suggest which specific norms are most…
Racial Differences in Satisfaction with VA Health Care
Domestic Violence, Marital Control, and Family Planning, Maternal, and Birth Outcomes in Timor-Leste
Racial Differences in Satisfaction with VA Health Care
Associations between sex work laws and sex workers’ health
Community perspectives on the extent to which transactional sex is viewed as sexual exploitation in Central Uganda
BACKGROUND: Definitions of child sexual exploitation vary. Sexual exploitation violates children's rights and exposes them to mental and physical harm. There exist differences in views of behaviour that is considered exploitative, including transactional sex. This paper explores community perspectives on the extent to which transactional sex is considered exploitative. METHODS: In 2014, we conducted 19 focus group discussions and 44 in-depth inte…
Implementing a whole-school relationships and sex education intervention to prevent dating and relationship violence
Adolescent dating and relationship violence is associated with health harms and is an important topic for sex education. School-based interventions addressing this have been effective in the USA, but schools in England confront pressures that might hinder implementation. We assessed the feasibility of, and contextual enablers/barriers to implementing Project Respect, a whole-school intervention. We conducted a pilot trial with process evaluation …
Dilemmas of school-based relationships and sexuality education for and about consent
In 2018, reflecting in this journal on the arrival of the ‘age of consent’ into sexuality education, Jen Gilbert questioned what would happen to a concept drawn in part from legal contexts, but partly also driven by the passion of feminist activists, when it met the demands and logics – the learning outcomes and lesson plans – of the classroom. This article offers one response, drawing on qualitative data from two whole-school sexual health progr…
Capitalising on aspirations of adolescent girls and young women to reduce their sexual health risks
This paper explores adolescent girls' and young women's (AGYW) aspirations, factors that influence aspirations, and how their aspirations inform their sexual decision-making and behaviour. This study employed a qualitative design involving six participatory focus group discussions and 17 in-depth interviews with AGYW in - and out-of-school. Fieldwork was undertaken in rural and urban Tanzania. Thematic analysis was conducted using NVIVO software.…
Adolescent girls’ perceived readiness for sex in Central Uganda - liminal transitions and implications for sexual and reproductive health interventions
Young women in Uganda are at risk of negative sexual and reproductive health outcomes, in part because of sex with older men. Theoretically grounded in the concept of liminality, this paper examines perceived markers of adolescent girls' suitability for sexual activity. In 2014, we conducted 19 focus group discussions and 44 in-depth interviews in two communities in Uganda. Interviews were conducted using a semi-structured tool, audio-recorded an…
Enacting whole‐school relationships and sexuality education in England
Evidence from intervention evaluations suggests that achieving meaningful and lasting social, behavioural and attitudinal change from relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) in schools requires more than just a curriculum. Whole‐school approaches appear particularly promising since they work at multiple levels. For instance, they may: engage with carers, communities and local services; address iniquitous cultures and norms; change school p…
Restricting the advertising of high fat, salt and sugar foods on the Transport for London estate
Comprehensive Sex Education Addressing Gender and Power
Testing and refining middle-range theory in evaluations of public-health interventions
Evaluations of public-health interventions might potentially be used to test and refine middle-range theory (ie, theory about the mechanisms, which generate outcomes that is analytically generalisable enough to span a range of contexts, interventions or outcomes, but specific enough to be salient in a given application). This approach has been suggested as one means of developing more informed assessments of how different interventions work and w…
Social Norms About Dating and Relationship Violence and Gender Among Adolescents
Adolescent dating and relationship violence (DRV) is widespread and associated with increased risk of subsequent poor mental health outcomes and partner violence. Shifting social norms (i.e., descriptive norms of perceived behavior and injunctive norms of acceptable behavior among a reference group of important others) may be important for reducing DRV. However, few DRV studies assess norms, measurement varies, and evidence on measure quality is …
Student-reported relationships and sex education coverage and knowledge among a diverse population of early adolescents
Student-reported quality and coverage of school-based relationships and sex education (RSE) vary, with gender/sexual-minority and disadvantaged students reporting poorer provision. Experience of RSE among younger adolescents is under-explored. We examined student-reported RSE coverage and priorities and how coverage, and sexual-health knowledge and awareness of services, varies between students and schools. The data came from a pre-intervention s…
Comprehensive sexuality education addressing gender and power
Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), including critical reflection on gender norms and unfavourable power relations, has been theorised to affect various health and social outcomes among adolescents. This systematic review aimed to synthesise evidence on the effectiveness of school-based CSE addressing gender and power topics on adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and relationships outcomes. We screened six databases for evaluat…
The implementation of compulsory relationships and sex education in English secondary schools
The quality of sex education varies. In England from 2020, the government attempted to improve provision by making lessons a statutory requirement. We assessed implementation in 25 secondary schools in 2022–23, framed by May’s general theory of implementation. This identifies processes of sense-making, cognitive participation, collective action and reflexive monitoring, influenced by an intervention’s capability, stakeholder potential (individual…
Sexual Harassment in Early Adolescence
There is little research on sexual harassment among younger adolescents or on how rates vary by gender and other student/school characteristics. Drawing on data from 50 English schools, we explored the prevalence and patterning of victimization in the past year among students aged 12-13. Of 7,060 participants, almost a tenth had experienced sexual harassment. Girls, non-binary students, and sexual-minority students reported the highest rates. Stu…
I'm Pregnant, What Do I Do
Background Accurate, timely, and supportive information is important for high‐quality abortion care. Limited research explores how people find and use online sources of information (OSI) during the abortion process, particularly in Britain. Understanding experiences of using OSI is important for the development of person‐centered services and resources. Methods We conducted a thematic analysis of qualitative data from 41 semi‐structured interview…
The mechanisms by which a whole-school intervention might improve sexual health
Whole-school interventions go beyond classroom education, promoting health by modifying school environments. These can be effective in delaying sexual debut and increasing contraception use but mechanisms are poorly understood. Qualitative research within realist evaluation can explore mechanisms via building 'context-mechanism-outcome configurations', describing how interventions trigger mechanisms that interact with context to generate outcomes…
Social norms relating to gender and dating and relationship violence in English secondary schools
Dating and relationship violence (DRV) among young people is widespread. DRV is associated with subsequent mental ill health, substance use and sexual risk among girls and boys and is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among girls globally. Harmful social norms are widely recognised for their role in sustaining DRV, and interventions often seek to change these. However, little evidence is available to suggest which specific norms are most…
The association of positive educational experiences with adolescents’ depressive symptoms
Introduction The school environment influences adolescent health through both individual experiences, such as one’s own engagement with school, and broader school-level factors, such as aggregate student levels of engagement, affecting all students. For mental-health outcomes, existing evidence more consistently supports individual-level influences than school-level effects. In relation to depression, negative student-level educational experience…
“It's Not a One Size Fits All”
Abortion care in Britain has undergone significant transformation in recent years, with increasing use of medication, home management, and telemedicine. However, provision remains predominantly through specialist standalone clinics, particularly in England. Drawing on the interlinking frameworks of abortion exceptionalism, stigma, and quality of care, we analyzed 48 qualitative interviews with people who recently had abortions to explore how serv…
Factors affecting the implementation of a whole-school relationships and sexual health intervention
Whole-school relationships and sexual health interventions represent promising approaches to promoting healthy sexual development. However, data from a randomised controlled trial of the Positive Choices whole-school intervention demonstrate these may be challenging to implement in English secondary schools. We draw on qualitative data to examine staff perspectives on the implementation of the intervention and the factors affecting delivery. Inte…
Understanding the limited effectiveness of a whole-school relationships and sexual-health programme
Previous trials of whole-school relationships and sexual-health programmes have not reported on fidelity, reach or acceptability, despite the importance of these factors for interpreting outcomes. Our trial of the Positive Choices whole-school relationships and sexual-health programme found limited effectiveness in secondary schools in England. We aimed to understand whether sub-optimal fidelity, reach or acceptability might explain the results. …
Effects of a whole-school relationships and sexual health intervention on non-competent sexual debut
BACKGROUND: Relationships and sex education (RSE) impacts some sexual behaviours but could be strengthened by incorporating whole-school approaches (eg, building engagement, providing contraception). These can prevent pregnancies and sexually-transmitted infections but are unevaluated in UK schools. METHODS: A cluster-randomised trial of 'Positive Choices' compared it with usual practice in English secondary schools. Intervention comprised: RSE, …
Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (13 works) · Psychology (13 works) · Medicine (9 works) · Sociology (9 works) · Reproductive health (8 works) · Psychological intervention (7 works) · Qualitative research (7 works) · Developmental psychology (6 works) · Population (6 works) · Social Psychology (6 works)