Association Between Ever Being Taught Sex Education in School and Contraceptive Use at Last Sexual Intercourse among US Adolescents: A Secondary Data Analysis of the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) Combined State Dataset

Objectives: To assess whether school-based sex education is associated with contraceptive use among US adolescents. Methods: This study is based on analysis of the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) State Combined Dataset (analysis sample n=1,522). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the association between receipt of sex education and contraceptive use, and test whether education about birth control was a mediator, controlling for confounders.Results: There is no direct statistical association between students ever having sex education in school and using contraceptive methods at last sexual intercourse. Education on birth control methods in school did not mediate an indirect relationship between sex education and contraceptive use.Conclusions: There is no association between sex education and contraceptive use among US adolescents who participated in the 2015 YRBSS State Combined Dataset. Ongoing research and support is needed to determine how education can translate into behavioral change in adolescent contraceptive use.Master of Public Healt