The History and Impact of Sexual Health Education Policies in the U.S.

American adolescents are experiencing high rates of pregnancy, birth and sexually-transmitted infections. The majority of Americans are having sex as teenagers, with 71% of nineteen-year-olds being sexually experienced. Statistics of teen sexual activity suggest the need for effective, evidenced-based sex education policies in the United States, especially in light of the fact that the United States has relied on abstinence-only education as the main form of sexual health education for the last two decades. This paper investigates the history and impact of sexual health education policies in the U.S., demonstrates the failure of abstinence-only education in preventing pregnancy and disease among American teens, and provides rationale for comprehensive sexual health education.Master of Public Healt