Young people have a need and a right to know about their bodies and to be educated and informed about their sexual health, yet they face many social, political, and community barriers to receiving and gaining access to the right information. Sex is often a challenging and difficult issue for both youths and adults to discuss. The consequences of not talking about sex, however, can be severe:

Every hour of every day, two American young people contract HIV, 96 become pregnant, and nearly 350 more contract a sexually transmitted disease. . . .

Risk of STDs and pregnancy are primary influences in the sexual decision-making of older teens (ages 15 to 17). Younger teens (ages 12 to 14) are more likely to cite parents, teachers, and religious advisors as primary influences. . .

Nearly 80 percent of teenagers indicate that what their parents have told them and what their parents might think influence their decisions about sex and relationships.

–Parents, Peers, and Pressures: Identifying the Influences on Responsible Sexual Decision-Making, 2001

Which statements about sexual activity are supported by evidence in this article?

Unintended pregnancy is a problem in the US.
Most teenagers are influenced by what their parents might think before having sex.
Older teens ignore the risk of STDs when deciding to have sex.
The risk of pregnancy is a primary influence on a teen’s decision to have sex.
Teachers and religious advisors are more influential on older teens than on younger ones in their decisions about sex.