Effectiveness of Sex Education in the United States

摘要

Despite the widespread availability of sex education programs in the United States, the rate of unplanned pregnancies among women continues to rise, a trend reflected in the number of Navy women who become pregnant during their first enlistment. A literature review was conducted to identify the major variables influencing pregnancy and birth rates among young women, and to determine the effectiveness of traditional sex education programs in reducing the rate of unplanned pregnancy. Traditional classroom sex education has been shown to increase knowledge of sexual subjects and to change attitudes, but has little or no effect on sexual activity, contraceptive use, or teenage pregnancy. The school-based clinic is a promising model that the Navy might, in part, emulate as an intervention strategy to prevent unplanned pregnancies in Navy enlisted women. (aw)