There are two types of sexual education, abstinence only and abstinence plus, also know as comprehensive sexual education. In abstinence only, as you can probably guess, adolescents are taught to refrain from engaging in sexual intercourse, usually until marriage. This form of sexual education also skips over more in depth information, such as types of sexual and reproductive health education, like birth control and safe sex with protection and contraception. Abstinence plus, also known as comprehensive sex education, as the name explains, teaches abstinence plus additional topics such as age-appropriate, medically accurate information regarding sexuality, human development, relationships, decision making, contraception, and disease prevention/protection.

Out of the 50 states in the United States, sexual education is mandatory in public schools in only 24 states plus the District of Columbia. That, although close, is still less than half. And in 33 states that do teach sex education, children are allowed to opt out of the classes. In the state of New Jersey, there is a curriculum, the NJ Core curriculum Content Standards, mandating that everything taught is required to have medical, factual, and relevant backing. It requires that all students learn about human relationships and sexuality. This consists of contraception, protection, STDs and STIs, reproductive systems, sex, etc. Sexual education however focuses on not only safe sex and protection and contraception, but also what is and isn’t a healthy relationship, as well as what healthy sexual activities and developments are. In addition, students are also taught about family planning, pregnancy, and parenting. For me, sex education began in the fifth grade. Every year through my senior year of high school, I took a sex education course for one marking period. I learned about different kinds of sex, the dangers and risks of sex, STDs, STIs, contraception and protection, pregnancy and childbirth, sexuality, and relationships. In the state of Wisconsin, school boards are allowed to teach students about human growth and development anywhere from kindergarten up until twelfth grade. With the permission of their parents however, children may opt out of taking these courses. Although when sex education is taught, it must be considered age appropriate and of course, medically accurate. In addition, there is a curriculum if the course is taught that must include the following: the importance of communication about sexuality between the pupil and the pupil’s parents or guardians, reproductive and sexual anatomy and physiology, including biological, psychosocial, emotional, and intellectual changes that accompany maturation,and the benefits of and reasons for abstaining from sexual activity. The list goes on.

Uganda primarily follows what is known as the “ABC” sex education program. “ABC” stands for abstinence, be faithful, and correct use of condoms. The primary goal of sex education in Uganda is to protect against unwanted pregnancy and the spread of HIV/AIDS and other STDs or STIs. Abstinence is the act of refraining from sex. It is the most practical way of preventing against STDs and unwanted pregnancy. Being faithful preaches that when married, spouses should practice monogamy and fidelity, protecting against STDs that can be spread through casual intercourse. Correct and consistent condom use is meant to teach youths how and when to use a condom properly. The program teaches that condoms should be used between a married couple when one has and STD (HIV/AIDS) or to prevent pregnancy. There is an emphasis on the use of condoms during marriage only because the idea of abstinence until marriage is also taught. The United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS relief helped to provide funding for Uganda and the ABC method. As a result of the ABC program, there has been a major drop in the rates of HIV in Uganda, even though the ideas of ABC are not that widely practiced. Often time, contraception is not used because of the lack of knowledge about them. Men and women believe that they can lead to unwanted illness and side effects. Another key factor is the expenses of modern methods of contraception. Women in lower socioeconomic status are not able to afford contraception and protection.

Why do we care about sex education, especially in Uganda? We should care about global sex education because of the universal HIV/AIDS epidemic. Recently, on June 10th, 2016, the United Nations Member States have agreed to establish a program targeting the HIV/AIDS epidemic, that seeks to end the epidemic by 2030. Some of the goals and methods to achieve this ambitious plan include widespread opportunities and access to comprehensive sexuality education and protective services, in addition to outreach programs that target young girls, the LGBTQ community, anyone with a job in the sex profession, drug users, and migrants. The HIV/AIDS epidemic is a serious one that continues to grow and educating people about this disease can hopefully help combat it.