70% (7,665) of reported Chlamydia cases in Connecticut in 2006 were among young people aged 10-24. Left untreated, Chlamydia is a major contributor to infertility later in life. 55% (1,463) of reported Gonorrhea cases in CT in 2006 were among young people aged 10-24.[1]

The CT Department of Public Health reported the state teen birth rate as 6.9% in 2004. However, the rate is significantly higher in Hartford (20%), New Britain (16%), Windham (15.4%), New London (14%), New Haven (13.6%), Killingly (13.6%), Bridgeport (13.2%), Norwich (12.5%), and Putnam (9.9%).

Teens and young adults under the age of 25 continue to be at risk for HIV and most young people are infected through unprotected sex.[2] African Americans are disproportionately affected by HIV infection, accounting for 55% of all HIV infections reported among persons aged 13-24.[3] The lifetime per person HIV care cost is now $618,900.[4]

Research has shown that comprehensive sexuality education programs result in consistent condom use among teenagers who are sexually active.[5,6,7] This is particularly important considering 64% of sexually active teenagers in CT didn't use condoms the last time they had sex.[8]

1. State of Connecticut, Department of Public Healthy, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, 2006
2. Slide Set: HIV/AIDS Surveillance in Adolescents and Young Adults (through 2005)
3. CDC. HIV Prevention in the Third Decade. Atlanta: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2005
4. Schackman, B. Medical Care, November 2006; vol 44: pp 990-997. News release, Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Bruce R. Schackman, PhD, chief, division of health policy, Weill Cornell Medical College.
5. Starkman N, Rajani N. The case for comprehensive sex education. AIDS Patient Care and STDs. 2002;16(7):313-318
6. Kirby D. What does the research say about sexuality education? Education Leadership. 2000;58(2):72-76.
7. Jemmott J, Jemmott L, Fong G. Abstinence and Safer Sex HIV Risk-Reduction Interventions for African American Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Trial. JAMA. 1998;279(19):1529-1536.
8. State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health, Connecticut School Health Survey (2005)