Contraception – The Board Game

Contraception – The Board Game was developed by Maternity Nurse Lecturer - Barbara Hastings-Asatorian. She set up a social enterprise which developed a new learning tool to teach young people of the need for, and better use of, contraception. Barbara’s  nurses didn’t like talking about sex, and contraception, with young people, but the game Barbara developed has now been translated into three languages and is now sold all over the world, helping the young learn the facts of life, in a fun way.  

Barbara has also been assessed as being one of the most innovative women in Europe. So, CONTRACEPTION® helps young nurse trainees cope better with explaining to other young people, how they could avoid unwanted pregnancies. Her way of developing this was to let the young demonstrate best principle of the safe use contraception, to themselves, through a simple board game – similar in nature to the game ‘Monoply’ which is played throughout the world.  Where parents had failed to appraise the young in all the implications of unprotected sex, Barbara developed a game to embed important new attitudes and behaviours with respect to aspects of contraception, in a fun but highly informative way, to previously vulnerable young citizens. 

Turning to the game itself, as the young players move around the board, they come into contact with statements and questions which stimulate discussion and reinforce or elicit teacher input. Playing CONTRACEPTION® highlights areas where understanding may be lacking.

• The game looks at the mechanics of contraception through questions and true / false statements;
• Through these statements clear distinction is made between safe and risky sexual behaviour;
• Advancing around the board brings players into contact with various advice centres and resources where contraceptive and sexual health services can be accessed: e.g. Young Person’s Sexual Health Services, pharmacy, condom machines, GP's, Family Planning Clinics and Accident and Emergency Units.

Players are also directed at various intervals during the game to make an assertive statement which strengthens their ability to express their own needs and decline unwanted pressure.

Peer education is a key feature of the game. At certain stages a question card will present two options, for example (1) Using the condom demonstrator (included in the game) shows the group how to put on a condom. OR (2) Answer a question. The game therefore offers the group peer education opportunities in a safe environment, practicing use of language relating to safe sex, whilst building confidence.

This development originally adopted across all Salford Schools, resulted in a significant reduction of local teenage pregnancies in the age group it was aimed at. The game has now been used, not only throughout the UK, but in many other English speaking countries.  Originally a game for use of a few individuals, it has also now been made into a computer game to engage whole classes.  It has also now been translated into French and Spanish and is being used world-wide.  Furthermore, Barbara and her team have recently developed a further board game, based on socio-cultural research in Africa. This new game has been developed with particular emphasis on the prevention of ‘Aids in South Africa’ and works well in a totally different cultural context. This game is called - ‘safer sex’, Contraception the Board Game is written up as a case study in the UPBEAT series associated with this web site. Please go to the UPBEAT logo top left on the PUMR cover page to access this case study.

CONTRACEPTION: The Board Game® an interactive sex education resource was developed in line with DfES Sex and Relationship Guidance (DfES 2000), and in consultation with young people.

For those who want to know more about the Game Goggle Contraception – The Board Game, but the following will tell you why young people think the game works for them. For, Barbara’s evaluations show that young people discuss more about safe sex, sexual health and contraception in the relaxed, enjoyable, constructive peer-group setting, around the board. What young people say about Contraception: the Board Game® is:

"Risk Cards create good discussion and debate"

"Question cards were informative"

"The game is informal and fun"

"Nothing could be improved - all trainees opted to play the game again"

"It gives information"

"You get to see the contraceptives" 

"The cards told me what was good and bad"

"I liked the way the board was set out and how you got cards each time"

"It was a fun way and set out different questions and options"

"There are a lot of things to do and it's very informative" "Interesting questions"

"Putting a condom on"

"It teaches a lot about safe sex" 

"Learning about the risks"

"It was funny when people picked up the risks"

"It was a good laugh and you learn without realising it".

"It's exciting as you want to know what you'll get"

"It allowed me to learn all the safety points and the risky points on having sex"

"It was very informative"

"It will help us when we're older".

"It was revision for me but I liked the way we were allowed to demonstrate with condoms"

"Fun to play and very informative"

"It gave a lot of information and involved everybody"

"Interesting because it was full of information and had a lot of things to do"