The goal of reproductive health education is to promote young people’s health. Good sexuality education focuses on both factual information and skills development in setting goals, communicating about whether to have sex, negotiating abstinence or contraceptive use, and resisting peer pressure. In many schools, reproductive health education focuses only on anatomy and physiology or population and neglects the important role of family life or relationships in sexuality education.

When used consistently and correctly, latex condoms are extremely effective. Most condom failure results not because of condoms break or leak, but because they are used incorrectly. More information about contraceptives and more education about how to use them increases the chance that contraceptives will be used correctly and consistently. Accurate information will help teenagers make responsible decisions about whether to have sex and about the most appropriate way to avoid STDs and unintended pregnancy.

Reproductive health education is very important to unemployed youth. There is a strong link between young people’s economic well-being and their reproductive health. Out of school and street-involved youth may be less likely to seek information and services on their own and may be more susceptible to exploitation or being a sex worker.