American Teens’ Sources of Sexual Health Education
TEENS’ REPORTS OF FORMAL SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION
• “Formal” sexual health education is instruction that takes place in a school, youth center, church or other community setting. This type of instruction provides a central source of information for teens.
• In 2011-2013, more than 80% of adolescents aged 15–19 had received formal instruction about STDs, HIV or how to say no to sex. In contrast, only 55% of young men and 60% of young women received formal instruction about methods of birth control.[1]
• Between 2006-2010 and 2011-2013, there were significant declines in adolescent females’ reports of receiving formal instruction about birth control, saying no to sex, STDs and HIV/AIDS. There also was a significant decline in males’ reports of receiving formal instruction about birth control.[1]
• The share of adolescent females receiving formal instruction about how to say no to sex but receiving no instruction about birth control methods increased from 22% to 26% between 2006–2010 and 2011–2013. The share of adolescent males receiving similar instruction also increased during this time period, from 29% to 35%.[1]