In 2013, roughly 47% of high school students reported having had sexual intercourse, and 41% indicated that they did not use a condom during their last sexual encounter (Center for Disease Control). In order to reduce rates of STI transmission and teen pregnancy, many health organizations have called for comprehensive sex education in schools. In spite of an outpouring of expert opinion, federal funding has been directed toward abstinence only sex education for teenagers.
The Numbers
The CDC estimates that 10 million new sexually transmitted infections were acquired by young people, aged 15-24 in 2013:
• 1,520 cases of hepatitis B
• 11,080 cases of syphilis
• 349,200 cases of herpes simplex virus 2
• 574,000 cases of gonorrhea
• 141,700 cases of trichomoniasis
• 1,801,800 cases of chlamydia
• 6,909,000 cases of human papillomavirus
Additionally, it is estimated that teens aged 15-19 comprised a total of 615,000 pregnancies in 2010 (Guttmacher Institute).
Of these teens:
• 369,000 gave birth
• 159,900 obtained abortions
• 86,000 miscarried
Sex Education: What Works?
Comprehensive sex education includes information about abstinence, condom usage, hormonal contraceptives, and healthy relationships. Promoting information about safer sex practices has been shown to reduce rates of HIV transmission (Cochrane Collaboration, 2008), decrease teen pregnancy rates (National Institutes of Health, 2011), and even delay intercourse in teens (Guttmacher Institute, 2012). Comprehensive sex education for students has been supported by the American Medical Association (1999), the American Psychological Association (2005), the National Association of School Psychologists (2012), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (2001).
Despite it’s effectiveness and support, comprehensive sex education is often accused of encouraging sexual activity in teenagers. Because of this, many politicians vote in favor of giving more federal funding to abstinence only education programs. These programs, however, have been found to have no effect – and possibly even adverse effects – on the age and frequency of sexual activity, as well as rates of infection and pregnancy in teenagers (Cochrane Collaboration, 2007).
Title V
Title V, § 510(b) of the Social Security Act grants $75 million annually towards programs that teach abstinence only education. Programs eligible for these funds must have a curriculum that promotes education regarding:
• the negative psychological effects of having sex before marriage
• the health problems that can occur if one has sex outside of marriage
• the benefits of monogamy and abstaining from sexual activity until marriage
• the social expectations of abstinence
• and the harmful effects of having a child before marriage
A Call to Action
Abstinence only programs have received a 50% increase in federal funds through the new allocations in 2015. This comes without a paralleled increase in funding for comprehensive sex education programs such as the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), which only received $41 million in 2014.
Supporting comprehensive sex education programs is essential to reducing the rates of teen pregnancy and STI transmission. In order to achieve these goals, it is important to take action to support effective education strategies for teens.
What Can You Do?
You can help to promote comprehensive sex education by working at the community level, and by reaching out to your state legislators.
Contact the School Board
Make school administrators aware that they can apply for federal funds through the Personal Responsibility Education Program.
Contact Your Legislators
It is important for your representatives to know that their constituents support comprehensive sex education in their communities. It is also important to advocate for better regulation of sex education in schools. For instance, only 13 states mandate that information about sex and reproductive health be accurate in schools (Guttmacher Institute, 2012).
Donate
You can also make an impact by donating to organizations that provide comprehensive sex education such as the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States.