State Profiles

 

There are currently three inhabited U.S. territories in the Pacific Ocean: American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and three Freely Associated States (FAS) nations. People living in U.S. territories and associated Pacific Island nations have a unique relationship to the U.S. government. Residents in U.S. territories are either considered “U.S. nationals” or citizens, but cannot vote for the President of the United States, and they do not have full representation in the U.S. Congress. Territorial infrastructure is generally inferior to that of the continental U.S. and Hawaii, and poverty rates are higher in the territories than in the states.

Pacific Island nations that have signed an agreement with the United States called a Compact of Free Association (COFA), have a unique relationship that intertwines diplomatic, economic, and military relations. FAS are sovereign nations and FAS citizens are not U.S. citizens. These nations receive limited access to some public programs from the U.S. in exchange for U.S. military access to their islands.

This State Profile highlights the state of sex ed in American Samoa, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam.

THE STATE OF SEX ED IN GUAM

 

The State of Sex Education

Sex education is provided through required health education in Guam schools. Beginning in grade 9, students in Guam learn about “Family Life and Human Sexuality.” The School Health Education Program of Guam addresses the “prevention of risk behaviors,” including “sexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy, HIV infection, and other [STDs].” The program’s goal is to “improve educational outcomes in Guam’s schools.” In the Guam Department of Education K-12 Content Standards and Performance Indicators, pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and HIV are mentioned in Content Standard 1: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. 

Over the past few years, sex education advocates and health providers have worked hard to develop culturally relevant and responsive resources for the indigenous populations of Guam. In 2017, a new teaching resource entitled Navigating Personal Wellbeing & Sexuality: A Facilitator’s Guide for Working with Chuukese and Chamoru Communities was published by health providers, professionals from the Office of Minority Health Resource Center, cultural advisors, and sex education researchers to serve as a guide for educators in providing culturally responsive sex education curriculum.

Youth Sexual Health Data 

Young people are more than their health behaviors and outcomes. While data can be a powerful tool to demonstrate the sex education and sexual health care needs of young people, it is important to be mindful that these behaviors and outcomes are impacted by systemic inequities present in our society that affect an individual’s sexual health and well-being. To learn more about Guam’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) results, click here. At the time of publication, 2021 data was not made available yet.

State School Health Profiles Data 

In 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the 2020 School Health Profiles, which measure school health policies and practices and highlight which health topics were taught in schools across the country. Since the data were collected from self-administered questionnaires completed by schools’ principals and lead health education teachers, the CDC notes that one limitation of the School Health Profiles is bias toward the reporting of more positive policies and practices. In the School Health Profiles, the CDC identifies 22 sexual health education topics as critical for ensuring a young person’s sexual health. However, Guam did not participate in the data collection of the 2020 School Health Profiles. 

 

Visit the CDC’s School Health Profiles report for additional information on school health policies and practices.

THE STATE OF SEX ED OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS

Sex education is not explicitly required in schools in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI); however, HIV/AIDS instruction is required through their comprehensive health education program. State law requires instruction on HIV/AIDS as well as “other sexually transmitted diseases as well as other communicable diseases, and the prevention of disease”. Further, the Public School System (PSS) is required to provide age-appropriate instruction on HIV from kindergarten through 12th grade. Students receive sex education three times during their education: once during grade 6, once during grade 7, and once in high school. 

Youth Sexual Health Data 

Young people are more than their health behaviors and outcomes. While data can be a powerful tool to demonstrate the sex education and sexual health care needs of young people, it is important to be mindful that these behaviors and outcomes are impacted by systemic inequities present in our society that affect an individual’s sexual health and well-being. To learn more about the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands’ Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) results, click here. At the time of publication, the 2021 YRBS data was not made available yet.

State School Health Profiles Data 

In 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the 2020 School Health Profiles, which measure school health policies and practices and highlight which health topics were taught in schools across the country. Since the data were collected from self-administered questionnaires completed by schools’ principals and lead health education teachers, the CDC notes that one limitation of the School Health Profiles is bias toward the reporting of more positive policies and practices. In the School Health Profiles, the CDC identifies 22 sexual health education topics as critical for ensuring a young person’s sexual health.  However, CNMI did not participate in data collection for 2020 School Health Profiles

THE STATE OF SEX ED IN OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDS

American Samoa (U.S. Territory)

Sex education is not required to be taught in American Samoan schools. Instead, the American Samoa Department of Education’s health education program includes a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) School Health Project, which provides education about HIV infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) to students. Students in grades 7-12 also receive information on sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), HIV/AIDS, and teen pregnancy through the Teenage Health Teaching Modules, which address issues affecting adolescents. This program teaches students interpersonal communication, “refusal skills, self-esteem, decision-making, and role playing.”

With the goal of reducing HIV infection, schools encourage students “to abstain from sexual intercourse, to not inject drugs, and, when deemed appropriate, to consistently and correctly use latex condoms to prevent HIV infection, if they become sexually active.”

In recent years, advocates have voiced support for the inclusion of sex education in secondary schools beyond HIV/AIDS instruction but this has largely gone unheard by American Samoa’s Ministry of Education.

Republic of the Marshall Islands (Freely Associated State)

Sex education is a requirement for all schools in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The Republic of the Marshall Islands Public School System Content Standards and Performance Indicators refer to sexual activity as a risk behavior and suggest teaching refusal skills as well as “how STDs are transmitted and treated and behaviors that can protect against their transmission.” Refusal skills are taught as early as grade 4. School curriculum includes HIV education, which is taught to both primary and secondary school students. 

In July 2022, the Republic of Marshall Islands Public School System partnered with the United Nations Population Fund to launch a training workshop for “comprehensive sex education/family life education”. Many schools will be implementing the pilot Family Life Education curriculum introduced in the workshop.

Republic of Palau (Freely Associated State)

Sex education is not required in schools in Palau. However, one credit of health is required for graduation, and parental consent is required to participate in any sex education instruction that is provided. In Palau’s Education for All plan, “providing more effective training on HIV/AIDS issues and policies” is a suggested activity.

Youth Sexual Health Data 

Young people are more than their health behaviors and outcomes. While data can be a powerful tool to demonstrate the sex education and sexual health care needs of young people, it is important to be mindful that these behaviors and outcomes are impacted by systemic inequities present in our society that affect an individual’s sexual health and well-being. 

To learn more about American Samoa’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) results, click here

To learn more about the Republic of Marshall Islands’ Youth Risk Behavior (YRBS) results, click here.

To learn more about the Republic of Palau’s Youth Risk Behavior (YRBS) results, click here.

At the time of publication, the 2021 YRBS data was not made available yet.

The quality of sex education taught often reflects funding available for sex education programs. To learn more about federal funding streams, click here.

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