Although it is already included in the curriculum, sex education is still not properly delivered in U.S. schools, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said. Experts encouraged educators to do a better job in making young people aware of important topics on sex education.
Albany Daily Star reported CDC's finding that the youth is still not fully aware of needed health information especially about sexually transmitted diseases like HIV-AIDS. The public health institute said that only a small portion of middle and high schools in the country are taught all sex education topics.
"We need to do a better job of giving our young people the skills and knowledge they need to protect their own health," said CDC National Center for HIV/AIDS director Dr. Jonathan Mermin. "It's important to teach students about healthy relationships and how to reduce sexual risk before they start to have sex."
The institute noted that they arrived at such conclusion after checking health profiles of children enrolled in various schools. Students were asked if all sex education topics were covered as part of their lessons.
Because of lack of proper education, experts claim that more and more young individuals are exposed to various health risks. Their schools are still unable to make them understand vital and needed information that should have been taught through proper sex education.
The Maneater writer Elane Edwards explained that sex education in the country is indeed "in a crisis. She explained that only 19 states are able to provide "medically, factually or technically accurate" sex education to students.
"Just because sex is a topic that can be uncomfortable, it is not an excuse to not properly educate young adults on a matter that is important to their own health and safety," Edwards added. She suggested that Congress should implement reforms on sex education for it to be properly mandated.
