Comprehensive sex education programs are intervention programs that address sexual reproduction, contraception and use of protective barriers such as condoms against sexually transmitted diseases. These programs typically promote abstinence as the safest method for preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases as well as emphasize safer sex through the use of condom and other contraceptive methods. In general, comprehensive sex education programs have been found to be effective.
Looking beyond the intervention programs effectiveness, the purpose of this study is to determine if these programs are cost-effective. Therefore, utilizing decision analytic technique, the baseline cases of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, and their associated medical costs for one-year are estimated. Furthermore, applying the intervention program effects to the baseline cases and medical costs, the estimated one-year avertable medical costs due to intervention are obtained.
To further explore potential medical cost savings, three scenarios are investigated. Scenario One is the determination of the effects of one percent of the population delaying coital debut for one year. Scenario Two quantifies the impact of delaying further coitus for one year among those who are sexually active. Scenario Three is the determination of the impact of increasing by one percent the percentage of adolescents who say they used a condom at last intercourse.
The findings are that, in 2000, the avertable medical costs associated with sexually transmitted diseases ($4.1 billion) and pregnancy ($6.0 billion) amounted to $10 billion; and the incremental cost savings due to one-year delay of coitus among 13-14 years-old adolescents amounted to $218 million. The one-year estimated avertable medical costs due to intervention range from $0 – $5; $ – $99; and $0 – $280 per adolescent for age-groups 13-14 years; 15-17 years; and 18-19 years; respectively. In addition, the results of the scenarios show that intervention programs that delay coitus among younger adolescents and increase condom use among older adolescents are more likely to be cost-effective.