HOW DOES THE TYPE OF SEXUAL EDUCATION IN HIGH SCHOOLS IMPACT TEENAGERS’ SEXUAL ACTIVITIES?

Abstract:

There are three major sex education courses that are seen and taught in the United States which include abstinence-only, abstinence-plus, and comprehensive sex education courses. Abstinence-only sex education is the only federally funded sex education program through the program Title V Abstinence Only Until Marriage (AOUM). This form of sex education does not teach teenagers how to protect themselves against pregnancy or contraceptives yet according to the CDC, 55% of teenagers have sex before the age of 18. This evidently leaves a large number of teenagers without the proper information to be engaging in sexual intercourse or activities. These abstinence-only programs have also been found to include misinformation about human reproductive anatomy as well as inaccurate contraceptive effectiveness rates as an attempt to scare teenagers into vowing abstinence. Through a detailed literature review, the consequences of abstinence-only education are reviewed. Outcomes of abstinence-only sex education programs include higher teenage intercourse rates, confusion around reproductive anatomy, and lack of contraceptives and STD prevention methods. These sexual confusions and consequences are a cause of abstinence-only programs being taught in schools. The sexual behavior of adolescents followig absitence-plus and comprehensive sex education programs is also reviewed. Statistics and evidence describing these outcomes are laid out below.

Gabriela Gomez

Gaby greatly enjoys being on the Varsity Girl’s Weightlifting and Varsity Girl’s Lacrosse teams throughout high school. She also participates in multiple clubs related to her culture and interests. As an AP Capstone student, she has written various papers throughout the year which she has mostly tied back to psychology and health as she intends to pursue a medical track in college.

Gomez, Gabriela
May 1, 2023
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