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Maryland law requires comprehensive sex education beginning by age 12. Education must be designed with the views of the community in mind and must include information on contraception, family planning, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Yet Maryland received $3.25 million in funds abstinence-only programs in Fiscal Year 2008. Learn more about failed abstinence-only programs in Maryland.
Sex Education Policy
Maryland students must be taught the benefits of abstinence, while also receiving information about condoms and contraception. See the Maryland statutes governing sex education
Health Outcomes
Maryland has an average STI rate, high teen pregnancy rate, and the highest AIDS rate of any state in the country.
Sexual Health Stats at a Glance
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Teen Pregnancy Rate* |
Teen Birth Rate* |
Annual rate of AIDS Diagnoses (per 100,000 people) |
STI Rate+ |
% of high school students who did not use a condom at last sex |
| Maryland |
65 |
31.3 |
19.9 |
130.1 |
Not reported |
| National |
70 |
39 |
11.2 |
100.8 |
39 |
*Per 1000 young women ages 15-19
+Because of concern over recent changes in Chlamydia reporting and relative low incidence of syphilis, we used the state's gonorrhea rate as a stand-in for sexually transmitted infection rates.
Advocates' Partner Organizations
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