A Comparative Study of the Rates of Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Infection Among Adolescents Following the Adoption of a Comprehensive "Sex Ed" Model in the Grand Rapids Public High School System

Document Type

Conference Proceeding - Restricted Access

Publication Date

5-9-2025

Abstract

Most Michigan public schools adhere to a curricular model titled: "The Michigan Model for Health: Healthy and Responsible Relationships." This curriculum was previously abstinence based; however, it was updated in 2016 and now incorporates more comprehensive sexual health education [2]. Schools were not mandated to adhere to these curricular updates, and school leadership and PTA was encouraged to incorporate the updated model if they felt it was appropriate for their student base. The grand rapids public school system adopted a comprehensive sex ed curriculum in 2016. I aim to assess rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy among high school aged adolescents living i. Grand Rapids proper for the 5 years preceding the change in comparison to the 5 years after in order to ascertain if this curriculum change lead to differences in these important health outcomes.

I am focusing on anyone with a Grand Rapids address aged 14 to 18 from the years 2011 to 2016 compared to anyone aged 14-18 during the years of 2017 to 2022. We have pulled data from the Corewell Health electronic medical record based on diagnosis codes or problem list entries in the included patient charts. I am in the process of assessing statistical significance, but I am likely planning to use a Mann Whitney U test for all of the parameters. Study Procedures: I will pull data by age and home address during the years of 2011-2022. I will collect a raw number of patients that meet the inclusion criteria from 2011 to 2022. I will then determine the raw number of patients who have been diagnosed with an STI or pregnancy within my inclusion group I will create an STI and a pregnancy rate for the two groups (prior to 2016 versus post-2016) and compare these rates No subject enrollment. I will calculate rates of STI and pregnancy for adolescents in the years 2011-2016.

In general, rates of adolescent pregnancy among participants did decrease from the 2011-2016 group in comparison to the 2017-2022 group. However, on preliminary review, it appears rate of se sully transmitted infections increased with higher rates in the latter group compared to the former. I am attaching the general tables and graphs with my result ( hoping to meet with SASS team in the next week or two to discuss further):

It seems that comprehensive sex ed curriculum is increasing awareness about the importance of contraception and pregnancy prevention; however, there has maybe been a slight shift and a de-emphasis on barrier contraception contributing to rising rates of STIs. It's also possible that because of changes in confidentiality with adolescent health records, more teens are going to their primary care providers and OBGYNs for STI testing as opposed to the department of public health, which was previously a more anonymous pathway for receiving treatment for STDs.

Comments

2025 Research Day Corewell Health West, Grand Rapids, MI, May 9, 2025. Abstract 1684

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