NEW Issue Brief – The Economic Benefits of Implementing Comprehensive Sexual Health Education in Canada

Today, the Sex Information and Education Council of Canada (SIECCAN) is releasing a research-based brief documenting the annual costs associated with preventable negative sexual and reproductive health outcomes in Canada. This brief calculates the combined estimated annual costs associated with 1) Sexually transmitted infections (STIs); 2) Unintended pregnancy; and 3) Sexual assault/offenses and intimate partner violence. SIECCAN estimates that the combined economic costs of preventable negative sexual and reproductive health outcomes (STIs, unintended pregnancies, sexual assault/offenses, intimate partner violence) in Canada exceeds $13.7 billion dollars annually. Part Two of the brief summarizes research evidence clearly indicating that comprehensive sexual health education for youth improves sexual and reproductive health outcomes (e.g., delayed age of first intercourse, fewer sex partners, increased use of condoms and other protection) and can help to reduce gender-based violence.

Sustained and increased government funding for sexual health promotion, STI prevention, and gender-based violence prevention programs that incorporate comprehensive sexual health education are required investments to: 1. enhance the well-being of Canadians and 2. reduce the costs to government of negative sexual and reproductive health outcomes. Check out the full issue brief here