Teenagers’ Sources for Sex Education

Despite clearly exposed facts that abstinence only sex education is ineffective in preventing teen pregnancies, STD’s and may have negative consequences for teens, abstinence sex education is still the only instruction some teens receive as formal sex education. Furthermore, about 1 in 4 teens will receive abstinence only sex education without any information about contraceptives or STD’s prevention. In 2006 86% of schools in the United States taught abstinence as the most effective way to prevent teen pregnancies and STD’s. Theoretically this perception is true, however in 2006 about half of high school students reported having sex intercourse, or experienced other sexual activities, making abstinence only sex education obsolete. If some teens are not getting formal sex education in school other than abstinence only, where do they get their sex education from?

Because of the lack of accurate formal sex education in most schools, I am interested in knowing where do the majority of high schools students are obtaining their sex education from. I would like to know if parents are providing the needed information or if teens are learning more about sex from their peers or the media. High school aged subjects will be survey to obtain the necessary information.

Survey Instrument

This survey is part of a Sexuality and Society class assignment. The goal of this survey is to ask high school aged subjects if they receive abstinence only sex education in school, if they are taught about contraceptives, STD’s prevention and what other sources they utilize to obtain sex education.

As a teenager or high school aged students, please accurately answer the following five questions regarding your sources for sex education.

1. Gender

a. Female

b. Male

2. Do you receive abstinence only sex education at your school?

a. Yes

b. No

3. Do you receive information about pregnancy prevention and STD’s prevention?

a. Yes

b. No

4. Where do you obtain the...