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Through the comparison of programs that teach abstinence, with programs that teach comprehensive sex education, the following information is self explanatory. Sex education that encourages abstinence convinces a significant portion of young people to delay sexual activity.
In the first carefully designed study, evaluating the controversial differences in sexual education, researchers found that approximately a third of 6th and 7th graders, who attended predominantly abstinence only sessions, became sexually active in the following 2 years. In contrast, nearly half of students who went through other classes, including those that included contraceptive education, became sexually active right away.
John B. Gemmont III a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, who led the federally funded study stated, "I think we've written off abstinence only education, without looking closely at the nature of the evidence. Our study shows, abstinence only should be the 1st approach that should be used."
This research, published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, comes at a time when there is intense debate over reducing sexual activity, pregnancies, births and sexually transmitted diseases among children and teenagers. A recent rise in teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases has been reported in all areas of the country.
The Obama Administration eliminated federal funding, targeted at abstinence programs, by over $150 million dollars, while instead launching a new $114 million pregnancy prevention program, which will only fund programs scientifically proven to work. "This new study is game changing. For the first time there is strong evidence that an abstinence only intervention can help very young teens delay sex and reduce their recent sexual activity as well." says Sarah Brown. Sara Brown leads the national campaign to prevent teen and unplanned pregnancy.
The new study randomly assigned 662 African-American students to attend 1 of 5 programs: an 8-hour curriculum, which encouraged delaying sex; an 8-hour program which focused on teaching safe sex; and 8 or 12-hour program that did both, or an 8-hour program simply teaching other ways to be healthy, such as diet and exercise.
The appalling increase in teen pregnancy, as well as sexually transmitted diseases, has led many to believe that abstinence only education is the only criteria to be used in the school systems. This study reinforces those beliefs. |
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Abstinence Education Study
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A landmark scientific study, posted in the Washington Post on February 1,2010, shows abstinence education works, and comprehensive sex education does not. The study subjects were Afro American students. The tight guidelines necessitated that the evidence had to be reported, in spite of the Obama Administration's new rules, cutting federal funding to abstinence education programs. There was no doubt about the results. |
