During 2006--2008, 97% of persons aged 15--19 years received formal sex education on one or more of four topics before they were age 18 years. The percentage who reported receiving formal sex education on methods of birth control (66%) was less than the percentage who received education on how to say no to sex (84%), STDs (89%), or how to prevent HIV/AIDS (93%).
Sources: CDC. National Survey of Family Growth, 2006--2008. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nsfg/nsfg_2006_2008_puf.htm.
Martinez GM, Abma, JC, Copen CE. Educating teenagers about sex in the United States: NCHS data brief, no. 44. Available at
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db44.htm.
Alternate Text: The figure above shows receipt of formal sex education before age 18 years, among persons aged 15-19 years, by selected topics in the United States, from 2006-2008. During 2006-2008, 97% of persons aged 15-19 years received formal sex education on one or more of four topics before they were age 18 years. The percentage who reported receiving formal sex education on methods of birth control (66%) was less than the percentage who received education on how to say no to sex (84%), STDs (89%), or how to prevent HIV/AIDS (93%).