1. Effective Sexuality Education in schools
Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Samantha Beardslee
California State University Monterey Bay
April 27, 2012

2. The Teen sexual health issue
The United States falls behind all other industrialized nations in teen pregnancy rates and STI transmission (Darroch, Singh, and Frost, 2001).
Abstinence-only education is not effective in reducing teen pregnancy, yet the U.S. government funds programs teaching this (Santelli, Ott, Lyon, Rogers, Summers, and Schleifer, 2006).
*photo courtesy of Mahalie at
Creative Commons License

3. Reasons for poor sexual health in U.S. Adolescents
Sex among teenagers is viewed as a moral problem rather than as a health problem (Berne and Huberman, 1999).
There is little variation in age at first intercourse across the nations (Weaver, Smith, and Kippax, 2005).

4. Reasons for poor sexual health in U.S. Adolescents
Abstinence-only education prevents many youth from learning about other contraceptive methods.
Higher levels of multiple sexual partners among U.S. teens may explain higher STI rates (Darroch, Singh, and Frost, 2001).

5. Effects of current programs
Myths and misinformation regarding safer sex circulate among students, leading to contraceptive failure.
Most reported cases of gonorrhea and chlamydia occur in girls aged (CDC, 2008).
Birth rate among teens is much higher in U.S. than most other developed countries (World Bank, 2009).
*photo courtesy of Creative Commons user Shreshthatrivedi

6. Adolescent Family Life Act and Program
Attempted solutions
Adolescent Family Life Act and Program
Pregnancy Assistance Fund through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Although these programs address adolescent maternal health, they do not address pregnancy prevention other than abstinence.

7. _ New proposal _
Create a new act aimed at preventing teen pregnancy, rather than at preventing teen sexuality
In the current U.S. programs:
Education focuses only on the value of abstinence
Assistance is provided to pregnant teens so they feel less compelled to obtain abortions.

8. _ New proposal _ A program is needed that would:
Because we know:
Teens have sex despite abstinence only education
Teens have greater numbers of reported STI cases
Teens often do not know how to find helpful resources
Parents often feel uncomfortable talking with their children about sexual health issues
A program is needed that would:
Address STI prevention and contraception
Encourage teens to ask questions
Provide information to parents about sexual health communication within the family
Teach youth how to have healthy relationships and make wise personal decisions
Teach positive self-esteem and sexual self esteem

9. References
Berne, L., & Huberman, D. (1999). European Approaches to Adolescent Sexual Behavior & Responsibility: Executive Summary & Call to Action. Washington, DC: Advocates for Youth. Retrieved from
Boonstra, H.D. (2010). New Pregnancy Assistance Fund Under Health Care Reform: An Analysis. Guttmacher Policy Review 13(4) Retrieved from
CDC (2008). Sexually Transmitted Diseases in the United States. Retrieved from
Darroch, J.E., Singh, S., & Frost, J.J. (2001). Differences in Teenage Pregnancy Rates Among Five Developed Countries: The Roles of Sexual Activity and Contraceptive Use. Family Planning Perspectives, 33(6), Retrieved from
Department of Health and Human Services (2012). Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees - Fiscal year 2012, pages Retrieved from
Santelli, J., Ott, M.A., Lyon, M., Rogers, J., Summers, D., & Schleifer, R. (2006). Abstinence and Abstinence-Only Education: A Review of U.S. Policies and Programs. Journal of Adolescent Health 38(1), Retrieved from
Weaver, H., Smith, G., & Kippax, S. (2005). School-Based Sex Education Policies and Indicators of Sexual Health among Young People: A Comparison of the Netherlands, France, Australia and the United States. Sex Education. 5(2), Doi: /
World Bank (2009). Adolescent Fertility Rate (Births per 1,000 Women Ages 15-19). Retrieved from

10. Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Thank you
Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions