In the United States, sexual activity among teenagers has increased greatly, and the importance of educating young people about all of the safety measures they can and should take while promoting safe sexual behaviors has gone up. In the U.S, teen birth rates have reached greater heights than almost every other developing country and sexually transmitted infections can spread rapidly from one person to another. In 2012, the United States had 29.4 live births per every 1,000 women in the 15-19 year old age group (“About Teen Pregnancy”). While this number has gone down from 2006, in which the U.S had 41.9 live births per every 1,000 teenagers, it is still much higher than other countries, such as Canada and the United Kingdom (Stanger-Hall
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In this type of program, students learn about birth control methods such as condoms and the birth control pill, along with side effects, proper usage, and percent of success rate. If adolescents learn these preventative methods from an earlier age, they will be more likely to use them consistently. They will also learn how to use them correctly, lowering the chance that the contraceptive method will fail. Studies show that girls who become pregnant at a young age are less likely to finish high school than older mothers, and their children are also much more likely to experience poor health, increased chance of teenage pregnancy themselves, and lower levels of education (Collins 2). With comprehensive sex education, the likelihood of this happening goes down, because adolescents receive education on how to engage safely in sexual activity. When students have knowledge on condoms and have access to them, studies show that the use of condoms increases, while the average amount of sex stays the same (SIECUS 2). Teaching students about condoms, how to use them, and making sure they stay readily available is a huge step towards lowering pregnancy and STI rates in young adults. Learning about all different methods of birth control will keep teenagers healthier and safer in the long
In this type of program, students learn about birth control methods such as condoms and the birth control pill, along with side effects, proper usage, and percent of success rate. If adolescents learn these preventative methods from an earlier age, they will be more likely to use them consistently. They will also learn how to use them correctly, lowering the chance that the contraceptive method will fail. Studies show that girls who become pregnant at a young age are less likely to finish high school than older mothers, and their children are also much more likely to experience poor health, increased chance of teenage pregnancy themselves, and lower levels of education (Collins 2). With comprehensive sex education, the likelihood of this happening goes down, because adolescents receive education on how to engage safely in sexual activity. When students have knowledge on condoms and have access to them, studies show that the use of condoms increases, while the average amount of sex stays the same (SIECUS 2). Teaching students about condoms, how to use them, and making sure they stay readily available is a huge step towards lowering pregnancy and STI rates in young adults. Learning about all different methods of birth control will keep teenagers healthier and safer in the long