And some have blamed the US’s more conservative methods of sexual education. So, we wanted

而有些人把這歸咎於美國較保守的性教育。所以，我們想要

to know, why is the US so far behind?

知道，為什麼美國相差如此遠？

Well, according to the most recent World Bank data, which measures teen births from girls

好，根據最新的世界銀行數據，估量從15至19歲女孩

aged 15 to 19, Europe has most of the world’s lowest teen birth rates. Frontrunner countries

的生育率，歐洲的青少年生育率是全世界最低。領頭國家

like Italy, Germany, and Switzerland reported rates below 4 teen births per thousand people.

像義大利、德國和瑞士回報的比率低於千分之四。

Sweden, France, the Netherlands, Denmark and Belgium also had low rates - just 5 or 6 teen

瑞典、法國、荷蘭、丹麥和比利時的比率也很低-只有千分之

births per thousand people. Overall, European countries tend to have less than 20 teen births

五或六。整體來說，歐洲國家的生育率會少於千分之

per thousand.

二十。

Why? Well, Europe’s low teen birth rate has been partially attributed to their progressive

為什麼？好，歐洲的低青少年生育率有部分被歸因於他們進步的

sexual education. One researcher found that in the Netherlands, parents and teachers focus

性教育。一位研究者發現，在荷蘭，父母和老師較少關注

less on the “dangers of sex”, and more on the normal, positive aspects. Dutch teenagers

「性的危險」，他們比較關注一般、正向的層面。荷蘭的青少年因此

are therefore less likely to be secretive and misinformed about their first sexual experiences.

比較不會遮掩和誤傳與第一次性經驗有關的事。

Other northern European countries in particular, hold that young people are still “rights

其他特定的北歐國家認為年輕人還是「權力持有人」，

holders”, and are entitled to correct and comprehensive sex education.

他們有權利受正確且全方位的性教育。

The US, by contrast, has one of the highest teenage birth rates of all the developed nations

相較之下，美國的青少年生育率在已開發國家中是比率最高的其中一個

- around 30 teen births per thousand. Many believe that this high rate has to do with

-大約千分之三十。許多人相信這個高生育率與

their more repressive views towards teen sex. In southern states especially, they teach

美國青少年較壓抑的性觀念有關。特別是在南方的州，他們只傳授

abstinence-only sexual education, which leaves out key details about pregnancy and diseases.

節制的性教育，省略了與懷孕和疾病有關的重要細節。

United Nations reports have noted that this kind of education can backfire, and contribute

聯合國調查報告注意到這種性教育會適得其反，並造成

to more risky sexual behavior. The US also has a generally more negative attitude towards

更多有風險的性行為。美國對性的態度通常比較負面，

sex, highlighting the “dangers” and the risks associated with it instead of the benefits

強調「危險」和風險，而不是

of a healthy, intimate relationship.

健康、親密關係的益處。

So does sex ed make a difference? Well, there certainly seems to be a positive correlation

所以不同性教育會有差別嗎？好，在全方位的性教育和低青年生育率之間

between comprehensive sex ed and low teen birth rates. However, not all countries follow

有必然正面的相關性。然而，不是所有國家都遵循

this pattern, and many scholars still disagree on the best method to decrease teen births.

這種模式，許多學者仍反對能降低青少年生育率的最好方法。

Some United Nations officials maintain that, although the rates of teen sex are unlikely

某些聯合國官員堅持，即使無法改變青少年性行為的比率，

to change, the safety of teen sex can be significantly improved with sexual education.

性教育可以顯著地改進青少年性行為的安全性。

When it comes to Sex education, Germany is miles ahead of the United States. To learn

當提到性教育，德國遠跑在美國之前。想了解

just how successful their program is, check out the story from Seeker here. There’s

他們的計畫有多成功，看看Seeker中的故事。

a link to that video in the description if you’re on your phone. Thanks for watching

如果你在使用手機，這裡有一個影片連結。謝謝收看

TestTube!

TestTube！