Graphic: Many States That Restrict or Ban Abortion Don't Teach Kids About Sex and Pregnancy

The Supreme Court overturned abortion coverage in the U.S. It used to be difficult to receive this medical procedure in some states. Old laws regained their constitutionality while lawsuits challenging abortion restrictions were struck down. Many states that ban abortion are failing to teach their young people about safe sex.

According to the American Public Health Association, sex education gives people the skills, values and attitudes that empower them to have a healthy life. The places that don't offer it are just throwing the dice and hoping the kids will get it.

Sex education policies in the United States are similar to abortion coverage in that they are fragmented. Only a small number of states mandate sex education in schools. Abstinence-only education must be included or emphasized without contraceptives in 15 states and Washington, D.C., and four states don't specify that the lessons should cover either category.

Some states that do not mandate sex education have policies in place to teach students about contraceptives if a school decides to teach it. Sex education isn't required in six states.

Youth are hurt by this state-by-state variation. Christine Harley is the President and CEO of SIECUS. Young people in this country are failing. She says that people don't know the breadth of comprehensive sex education, which is about more than how to get pregnant. It teaches about how to navigate communication and negotiation, personal safety, consent and decision-making.

All sexual and gender identities are included in the sex education SIECUS advocates for. Positive health outcomes are provided by comprehensive education. Young people delay sex, have fewer sexual partners, have fewer pregnancies, and have less transmission of HIV. The things we want for young people are listed. She believes that comprehensive, evidence-based sex education helps prevent relationship violence and sexual abuse because it teaches young people what red flags to look out for.

According to Elizabeth Nash, principal policy associate for state issues at the Guttmacher Institute, young people are smart. Young people have access to information and health care. Guttmacher rates U.S. states on a scale from "most protective" to "most restrictive" when it comes to abortion policy. Sex education is more important now that states can ban abortion completely. It is basically a circle when you compare the places where abortion is most restricted to the places where it is not.

States have responded to the ban on abortion with other responses. In states where abortion restrictions are more of a gray area, more conservative legislatures push for laws through courts while more liberal ones are more protective. There is a constitutional amendment pending in California, Michigan and Vermont. Money allocations for abortion funds are decided by a number of states. She thinks this isn't enough. Nash says that the federal government needs to step in on reproductive health issues. Without abortion protections and sex education policies at the federal level, reproductive health is vastly different across the country.

It is the most protective state for abortion and sex education.

Oregon is considered the most protective state for abortion. Nash says that a person can have an abortion at any time of their life. In March, 15 million of Oregon's money was allocated to the reproductive health equity fund, which will help patients pay for both abortion services and travel costs. Nash says that not a lot of states have adopted a state fund to pay for abortions.

Sex education is compulsory in Oregon. The sex education provided to young Oregonians needs to be age appropriate, evidence based, culturally appropriate and medically accurate. It is one of the few states with programs that include discussions about how to maintain a healthy relationship. Abstinence must be emphasized in the state's sex education programs, but there needs to be more coverage of contraceptive methods. Oregon is considered to be an adultery plus state. They are still doing the best they can to give young people as much information as possible about safe sex practices.

The states that are least protective.

Nebraska has sex education policies that are quite different from those in Oregon. Sex education is not required. There is no requirement for the classroom to be evidence based, culturally appropriate or medically accurate. Sex education programs may be based on religious teachings. In Nebraska, young people may be taught that sex outside of a marriage is a sin.

When it comes to abortion, Nebraska is very strict. After the first missed period, the procedure is legal. Private or publicly funded insurance can't be used to cover abortion benefits if a person hasn't purchased an additional rider insurance policy. Any minor seeking an abortion and anyone who wants the procedure must wait 24 hours after state mandated counseling to get treatment.

The legislature in Nebraska is trying to ban abortion completely. There was a delay in the passing of atrigger ban. Nebraskans can still seek reproductive care.

Mississippi is a state where abortion is not allowed. The law banning abortion went into effect on July 7 after a Mississippi judge refused to block it. In the case of rape and when the pregnant person's life is at risk, Mississippi's abortion ban only applies. After a lower court ruled against them, attorneys for Jackson Women's Health Organization, the state's only abortion clinic before the ban, filed a request to the Mississippi Supreme Court to block the state law. The owner of the clinic sold the building after the higher court refused to speed up the appeal. In Mississippi, there are no abortion clinics anymore.

Nash says it is likely that the sex education policy of the state will be either abstinence-only or focused on abstinence. It's true for Mississippi. Sex education is required to be taught to students. There is no requirement for contraceptives to be covered. They are not allowed to tell students that abortion can be used to prevent the birth of a baby.

It is only a matter of time before the protections are restored. prohibition is an example of a policy that was unpopular. When bad policy decisions are made, the public demands that it be fixed. He sees two different approaches in the wake of the Dobbs decision. It's important that abortion access is protected. Benjamin says that comprehensive sex education needs to be in place, as well as paid sick leave and health insurance coverage.

He says that the social agenda will still be important even after we reestablished the law of the land.