April marks the start of Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. We know that sex education, while being an excellent avenue for your people to learn about puberty, STIs, and contraception, also plays a key role in sexual violence prevention and child sexual abuse prevention. So, if you want to learn about strategies to prevent harm and keep young people safe, start with sex ed!
At the 2026 Oklahoma Child Abuse and Neglect Conference, the honestly team connected with professionals who work in the field of child abuse and neglect to share how sex education intersects with their work. We also discussed the hard truths about teen births in Oklahoma, like how Oklahoma has the 5th highest teen birth rate in the country—approximately 50% higher than the national average—and about 15% of those teens already have children. When racial disparities are considered, the picture becomes even more concerning: teen births are more common among youth of color and Hispanic teens, and the teen birth rate for mixed-race teen mothers is 40% higher than the state average. Want more quick facts? Check these out!
In the realm of child abuse prevention in Oklahoma, one deeply concerning reality is that a small number of births occur each year among youth aged 10–14. While the number of Oklahomans in this age range giving birth is low, any occurrence is too many because it is an unmistakable sign of child abuse. Youth in this age group cannot consent; they often do not understand the risks of unprotected sex, and they are rarely ready to manage the outcomes of childbirth or raising a child.
This is where sex education can make a meaningful difference!
When done right, sex education includes instruction on consent, boundaries, healthy relationships, and recognizing red flags. It can even address topics like sex trafficking. These lessons directly impact a young person’s likelihood of experiencing abuse. Health education that includes consent and boundaries helps young people learn how to navigate difficult situations, identify warning signs, and understand what healthy relationships of all kinds look like, not just romantic ones.
It’s especially valuable for young people to learn that they can say no, regardless of the relationship. Developing a sense of autonomy and learning how to make healthy decisions for oneself is a core component of sexual health education and helps teens and young adults make choices they can be proud of. Quality sex education (like the programs offered by our partners in the Collaboration!) helps young people identify trusted adults. This is a critical element of abuse prevention, as young people often need help navigating situations involving abuse and neglect. Having a trusted adult can be the difference between lifelong negative impacts and preventing harmful outcomes altogether.
If you weren’t already aware that sexual health education is a form of abuse prevention, we hope this information has offered new insight into its impact. Sex education isn’t just about preventing pregnancy and STIs; it’s about preventing unwanted outcomes in sexual experiences, including sexual abuse.
For more resources related to child abuse prevention, visit the National Center on the Sexual Behavior of Youth Resources and Education page. You can also check out this article from SIECUS to find data about harassment among young people, information on the current state of sex ed across the country, and ways to advocate for sex ed as a strategy to prevent sexual violence.