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Alabama Sexuality Education Law and Policy

• abstinence from sexual intercourse is the only completely effective protection against unwanted pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) when transmitted sexually; and

• abstinence from sexual intercourse outside of lawful marriage is the expected social standard for unmarried school-age persons. [1]

• course materials and instruction that relate to sexual education or sexually transmitted diseases should be age-appropriate;

• course materials and instruction that relate to sexual education or sexually transmitted diseases should emphasize the importance of self-control and ethical conduct pertaining to sexual behavior;

• statistics used must be based on the latest medical information that indicate the degree of reliability and unreliability of various forms of contraception, while also emphasizing the increase in protection against pregnancy and protection against sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV and AIDS infection, which is afforded by the use of various contraceptive measures; and

• classes must emphasize, in a factual manner and from a public health perspective, that homosexuality is not a lifestyle acceptable to the general public and that homosexual conduct is a criminal offense under the laws of the state.[2]

• In 2009, 51% of female high school students and 62% of male high school students in Alabama reported ever having had sexual intercourse compared to 46% of female high school students and 46% of male high school students nationwide.

• In 2009, 4% of female high school students and 16% of male high school students in Alabama reported having had sexual intercourse before age 13 compared to 3% of female high school students and 8% of male high school students nationwide.

• In 2009, 14% of female high school students and 26% of male high school students in Alabama reported having had four or more lifetime sexual partners compared to 11% of female high school students and 16% of male high school students nationwide.

• In 2009, 42% of female high school students and 41% of male high school students in Alabama reported being currently sexually active (defined as having had sexual intercourse in the three months prior to the survey) compared to 36% of female high school students and 33% of male high school students nationwide.

• In 2009, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 55% of females and 63% of males in Alabama reported having used condoms the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 54% of females and 69% of males nationwide.

• In 2009, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 25% of females and 17% of males in Alabama reported having used birth control pills the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 23% of females and 17% of males nationwide.

• In 2009, among those high school students who reported being currently sexually active, 15% of females and 28% of males in Alabama reported having used alcohol or drugs the last time they had sexual intercourse compared to 17% of females and 26% of males nationwide.

• In 2009, 85% of high school students in Alabama reported having been taught about AIDS/HIV in school compared to 87% of high school students nationwide.

• Alabama’s teen pregnancy rate ranks 17^th in the U.S., with a rate of 73 pregnancies per 1,000 young women ages 15–19 compared to the national rate of 70 pregnancies per 1,000.[5] There were a total of 11,430 pregnancies among young women ages 15–19 reported in 2005, the most recent year for which data are available, in Alabama.[6]

• Alabama’s teen birth rate ranked 12^th in the U.S. in 2005, with a rate of 49.7 births per 1,000 young women ages 15–19 compared to the national rate of 40.5 births per 1,000.[7] There were a total of 7,771 live births among young women ages 15–19 reported in 2005 in Alabama.[8]

• In 2006, the U.S. teen birth rate increased for the first time in 15 years by 3% from 40.5 to 41.9 births per 1,000 young women ages 15–19, after having steadily declined between 1991 and 2005.[9] In contrast, Alabama’s teen birth rate increased 8% between 2005 and 2006, from 49.7 to 53.5 births per 1,000 young women ages 15–19.[10] 

• Alabama’s teen abortion rate ranks 26^th in the U.S., with a rate of 12 abortions per 1,000 young women ages 15–19 compared to the national rate of 19 abortions per 1,000. In 2005, there were a total of 2,082 abortions reported among young women ages 15–19 in Alabama.[11]  

• Alabama ranks 18^th in cases of HIV infection diagnosed in the U.S. among all age groups. In 2007, there were a total of 447 new cases of HIV infection diagnosed in Alabama. [12]

• Alabama ranks 13^th in cases of HIV/AIDS diagnosed among young people ages 13–19 out of the 34 states with confidential, name-based HIV infection reporting. In 2007, there were a total of 42 young people ages 13–19 diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in Alabama.[13]

• Alabama’s AIDS rate ranks 26^th in the U.S., with a rate of 8.4 cases per 100,000 population compared to the national rate of 12.5 cases per 100,000.[14] 

• Alabama ranks 22^nd in number of reported AIDS cases in the U.S. among all age groups.  In 2007, there were a total of 391 new AIDS cases reported in Alabama.[15]

• Alabama ranks 26^th in number of reported AIDS cases in the U.S. among young people ages 13–19. In 2007, there were a total of 3 AIDS cases reported among young people ages 13–19 in Alabama.[16]

• Alabama ranks 4^th in reported cases of Chlamydia among young people ages 15–19 in the U.S., with an infection rate of 27.98 cases per 1,000 compared to the national rate of 19.51 cases per 1,000. In 2008, there were a total of 9,133 cases of Chlamydia reported among young people ages 15–19 in Alabama.[17] 

• Alabama ranks 4^th in reported cases of gonorrhea among young people ages 15–19 in the U.S., with an infection rate of 9.10 cases per 1,000 compared to the national rate of 4.52 cases per 1,000. In 2008, there were a total of 2,972 cases of gonorrhea reported among young people ages 15–19 in Alabama.[18] 

• Alabama ranks 4^th in reported cases of primary and secondary syphilis among young people ages 15–19 in the U.S., with an infection rate of 0.08 cases per 1,000 compared to the national rate of 0.04 cases per 1,000. In 2008, there were a total of 26 cases of syphilis reported among young people ages 15–19 in Alabama.[19] 

• Alabama received $716,367 in federal Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage funding in Fiscal Year 2009. Due to the expiration of the grant program on June 30, 2009, three months prior to the end of the federal fiscal year, the state received three quarters of the total funding allocated for the full fiscal year.

• The Alabama Department of Public Health distributes federal Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage funds to seven sub-grantees, all of which are community-based organizations.

• The Title V abstinence-only-until marriage grant required states to provide three state-raised dollars or the equivalent in services for every four federal dollars received. The state match could have been provided in part or in full by local groups.

• In Alabama, sub-grantees contributed to the match through in-kind services.  

• Organizations in Alabama received $2,352,111 in CBAE funding for Fiscal Year 2009.

• There are four CBAE grantees in Alabama, including two faith-based organizations, one community-based organization, and one health center. 

• There are no AFLA grantees in Alabama.

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