THE IMPORTANCE OF SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION
WHY SEXUAL HEALTH EDUCATION MATTERS Healthy adolescents are essential to healthy communities. Providing young people with access to medically accurate, age-appropriate sexual health education supports informed decision-making, promotes healthy relationships, and strengthens long-term health outcomes. These conversations are not intended to influence personal choices, but to ensure youth have access to reliable information as they navigate physical, emotional, and social development. When accurate information is unavailable, young people often rely on peers, social media, or other informal sources that may be incomplete or inaccurate. Comprehensive education helps build health literacy, addresses misinformation, encourages respect for personal boundaries, and increases awareness of prevention strategies and available health resources.
Sexual health education contributes to broader public health goals by: Promoting informed and responsible health decision-making Increasing awareness of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), prevention, and available healthcare services Supporting healthy relationships, communication, and respect for personal boundaries Reducing misinformation through medically accurate, evidence-based education Strengthening the knowledge and skills that contribute to healthier individuals, families, and communities
About this Report This report examines adolescent sexual and reproductive health indicators across Oklahoma and compares them with national data. Together, these findings provide insight into current health behaviors, access to sexual health education, and opportunities to strengthen prevention efforts, improve health literacy, and support positive health outcomes for Oklahoma youth.
ENCOURAGING PREVENTION AND RESPONSIBLE HEALTH CHOICES Overall, the findings demonstrate important demographic differences in sexual health behaviors while highlighting encouraging national improvements in condom use and reductions in sexual activity and substance use before sex, alongside the need for continued targeted prevention efforts in Oklahoma, where substance use before last sexual intercourse has increased. State vs. National Trends
Oklahoma
Alcohol and Drug Use
U.S.
20.6%
18.8%
18.1%
39.9% 31.6% In 2023, Oklahoma students were
MORE LIKELY
2021
18.3%
2023
In a 2-year period, the percent of high school Oklahoma students who drank alcohol or used drugs before last sexual intercourse surpassed the national rate.
be sexually active when compared to students nationwide. Health Behaviors on the Rise Between 2021 and 2023, Oklahoma saw a...
7.3% INCREASE
4.1% INCREASE
in students not using any method to prevent pregnancy.
in students reporting sexual intercourse with 4 or more people over time.
The likelihood of engaging in risky health behaviors among students is further heightened by limited access to critical sexual health resources across Oklahoma. In 2024, Oklahoma students reported lower availability of contraceptives, STI testing, and treatment services, creating additional barriers to preventing unintended pregnancies and protecting their sexual health.
INCREASING AWARENESS OF SEXUAL HEALTH AND ADDRESSING MISINFORMATION The behavior of Oklahoma students is reflected by the lack of education present in the sexual health curriculum for high school. In 2024, Oklahoma courses consistently covered fewer topics compared to nationwide.
Curriculum Comparisons
Percent of high school students taught...
U.S. 78.8%
Sexual Education Topics Methods of Contraception other than Condoms
Oklahoma 32.7%
88.6%
How HIV and STI's are Transmitted
52.2%
88.3%
Consequences of HIV, other STIs, and Pregnancy
48.9%
84.1%
Importance of Limiting the Number of Sexual Partners
86.9%
Access Valid and Reliable Health Information, Products, and Services Related to HIV, other STIs, and Pregnancy
84%
Preventative Care that is Necessary to Maintain Reproductive and Sexual Health
38.5%
46.7%
43.4%
The disparity in education aimed at reducing sexual health risks is clealy evident. While many schools nationwide provide instruction on prevention strategies and healthy decision-making, Oklahoma students have less access to this information, potentially limiting opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills needed to make informed choices.
SUPPORTING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP SKILLS Data from the 2024 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System shows substantial differences between Oklahoma and national rates of relationship and sexual health education among high school students, highlighting important gaps in the topics Oklahoma students are taught. Percent of students in grades 9 through 12 from Oklahoma and nationwide who were received education on...
88.4%
83.1%
81.5%
50.6%
44.5%
41.2%
Goal-setting and decisionmaking skills to help reduce the risk of HIV, other STIs, and pregnancy
Recognizing and responding to sexual victimization and violence
How to build and maintain healthy, respectful relationships
Promoting Respect Through Consent and Boundaries In 2023,
4 in 5 high school students nationwide (79.8%) reported asking for their partner's consent before engaging in sexual intercourse In Oklahoma, just 40.9% of sexual health courses taught communication of sexual consent, compared with 84.1% nationwide.
84.6% v. 74.5% Males were more likely to report asking for consent compared to females.
Available Resources The Ending the HIV, Hepatitis C, and Syphilis Epidemics in Indian Country (ETHIC) Program, in collaboration with the Native ROOTS Program at SPTHB, has adapted evidence based sexual health curriculum to better meet the needs of Tribal communities across our service area. These flexible, evidence-based curriculum can be delivered in a variety of settings and timeframes while maintaining their core content. Every Tribal community is unique. Scan the QR code to request technical assistance and learn how we can adapt evidence based sexual health education to fit your community's goals, audience, and available time. Native Test is a nationwide program within the ETHIC Program. Native Test provides free HIV, syphilis, and pregnancy self-test kits, sexual health education, prevention resources, and Sexual Health Care Navigation. Through Sexual Health Care Navigation, individuals can receive assistance connecting with HIV PrEP, HIV PEP, DoxyPEP, expanded STI testing, healthcare providers, and other sexual health services. Native Test is available to anyone in the United States who is 13 years of age or older, including both American Indian/Alaska Native and non-Native individuals.
Data Source The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) collects data from students in grades 9–12. The results help monitor adolescent health behavior changes over time, identify emerging issues, and plan and evaluate programs to support the health of youth while giving students an opportunity to share their voice, anonymously and voluntarily. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2021-2024 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at http://yrbs-explorer.services.cdc.gov/.
Supported by Indian Health Service with backing from the Minority HIV/AIDS Fund.
Southern Plains Tribal Health Board Oklahoma Area Tribal Epidemiology Center 9705 North Broadway Extension, Suite 200 Oklahoma City, OK 73114 (405) 652-9200 | nativetest@spthb.org | spthb.org