The Journal of Sexual Medicine released the largest national survey on American sexual behavior since 1994 on Monday, and its findings are positive.
Dr. Dennis Fortenberry, one of the study’s lead authors, used the word “normal” to describe the study’s findings.
Normal means it is becoming more socially acceptable for younger people to use contraceptives such as condoms than it was for their baby boomer parents.
About 80 percent of sexually active male teens from 14 to 17 years of age reported they used a condom during their most recent sexual encounter, compared to just 25 percent of men over 40.
Fortenberry said the number is lower among men over 40 because they are more likely to be married, but the survey also reports the older group is most susceptible to sexually transmitted diseases.
It’s rare when you can tell your parents to play it safe and smart, so be sure to take advantage of it.
While the national findings are encouraging, we’re afraid Oklahoma is falling short.
True, students have the opportunity to learn about sex when they come to college, but it’s a little too late for too many.
The Oklahoma Youth Risk Behavior survey reported in 2009 about 51 percent of Oklahoma public high school students admitted to having sexual intercourse.
This is 11 percent higher than the national average reported by the latest study.
In 2007, Oklahoma females 19 and younger gave birth to 7,616 babies, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health. Unmarried females delivered 6,079 of those babies.
If you’re wondering why the numbers are so high, look no further than Oklahoma’s puritanical state laws, which do not require public schools to teach sex education. If they do, abstinence is mandated to be the answer and STDs, HIV and AIDS must be covered. However, teaching about contraceptives isn’t required, which is bizarre because condoms and birth control are extremely effective in reducing the spread of the most serious STDs.
The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy reported in 2006 that teen childbearing cost taxpayers more than $9.1 billion. Oklahoma taxpayers spent $149 million on teen childbearing costs in 2004, according to the campaign. Requiring the teaching of contraceptives would undoubtedly lower this cost, and in turn lower the amount of taxes Oklahoma citizens spend on teen childbearing.
Sex education that relies on more than abstinence isn’t only rational, it’s fiscally responsible. If Oklahoma politicians haven’t been listening yet, they should be now.
OU students are definitely not immune to the woes of unplanned pregnancies. Upperclassmen may remember the freshman girl who didn’t know she was pregnant until she gave birth in her Walker Tower room in spring 2009.
However, OU offers many great sexual health programs, including the student-friendly Sexperts.
If you attended Oklahoma public schools before college and didn’t have the chance to really learn how to avoid pregnancy and STDs and to learn about effective contraceptives, we recommend attending at least one of the Sexpert’s events.
We’re glad the trend shows people are more educated about contraceptives than they were in the past. However, we want to make sure Oklahoma’s youth have the same knowledge as their peers and can make informed decisions about their sex lives.
A link to the university press release for the study can be found here.
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Steven Zoeller 1 year, 7 months ago
Puritanical. Good word, and it describes the system perfectly. Synonymous with 'broken' and 'hopelessly flawed'. We can only hope more studies like this are cited in debates on the subject.
TheJeff 1 year, 7 months ago
Is it a bad thing that STDs are covered? While I don't care whether public schools teach contraceptives or not, I have to wonder about the real motives for pushing sex education. They might be pure intentions based just on wanting people to know; however, I have a hard time believing that people don't know much about condoms. Having gone to such medieval institutions that don't talk about contraceptives, I'm still quite sure all my fellow students knew how to use them if they wanted. If, instead, it's to let kids know its okay to use condoms, how is that any different from conservatives saying it's not okay to use condoms?
kathyh 1 year, 7 months ago
No. It is not a bad thing STDs are covered. In fact, for a sexuality program to be effective, it should cover not only STDs but Healthy Relationships, Effective Communication, Understanding Peer and Social Pressures AND yes, contraceptives as well as the only 100% effective birth control method: Abstinence... If you believe people "just know" how to use a condom correctly, think again. Most condom failures are due to ignorance of use. I teach sex ed and provide condom demonstrations. It is rare that I teach a class where the majority knows everything there is to know about how to use one correctly - even in classes of adults. If you believe it's a matter of simply putting one on, you may want to consider taking a class yourself. The motives for those of us who "push" sex education is no different than those who "push" math education. Knowledge is power. The more knowledge one has in any subject, the better he/she can make decisions related to that issue. And, for sex, it is critical people know what they are getting in to.