Abstinence sex ed shows promising trends

[30ashopper]

Sex education classes that focus on encouraging children to remain abstinent can persuade a significant proportion to delay sexual activity, researchers reported Monday in a landmark study that could have major implications for U.S. efforts to protect young people against unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

Only about a third of sixth- and seventh-graders who completed an abstinence-focused program started having sex within the next two years, researchers found. Nearly half of the students who attended other classes, including ones that combined information about abstinence and contraception, became sexually active.

The findings are the first clear evidence that an abstinence program work.

washingtonpost.com

I had heard that abstinence sex-ed did didn't work, but apparently some schools are having some real success with it.

 

[LuciferSam]

washingtonpost.com

I had heard that abstinence sex-ed did didn't work, but apparently some schools are having some real success with it.

We'll have to ask Jesus what he thinks about this. Abstinence is what put him here, so I guess in some sense it "works".

 

[Matt J]

What's wrong with abstinence and birth control classes? Interesting that the pregnancy rates weren't mentioned.

It's pretty simple math.

100 students get abstinence education and only 1/3 have sex.
100 students get birth control education and 1/2 have sex.

Which population has a higher incidence of teen pregnancy or disease?

 

[scooterbug44]

I know our teen pregnancy rate is going up - it was in the news last week, dunno about the STD rate, but I would assume it is also on the rise.

1/3 of 6th-8th graders not having sex isn't because of a class IMO.

And if 2/3 ARE, then I think it's more important than ever that they be educated and have access to birth control and STD preventatives before they screw up their lives.

 

[30A Skunkape]

Sadly we have suffered a recent uptick in teen pregnancy rates, the first in some years. This comes on the heels of intensive abstinence education. I am not suggesting cause and effect, but common sense suggests that 'just say no' may not be enough to offset millions of years of evolutionary programming.

 

[Danny Burns]

In the "heat" of the moment, hormones will probably win over abstinence education every time. I had both abstinence and information education when I was a kid (over 40 years ago), and I felt more protected because of it. An informed child is a better protected child. If you doubt this fact, you need to be better informed adult.

 

[Bob]

i remember being in high school and thinking about sex only 95 percent of the time.

 

[Bobby J]

i remember being in high school and thinking about sex only 95 percent of the time.

I still got that problem....

 

[Jdarg]

Teaching abstinence is great- as long as safe sex and birth control are discussed along with the abstinence message. Trying to prove over and over that abstinence-only is a sound and viable is ridiculous- let's just hand these kids a baby and an STD on the side.

Stats show that most of these kids taught the abstinence-only message will have sex- it might be delayed a few months or a year, but it will happen. And sadly, when it happens and these kids know nothing about birth control or safe sex, guess what happens. Hello baby and STDs!

 

[Susan Horn]

washingtonpost.com

I had heard that abstinence sex-ed did didn't work, but apparently some schools are having some real success with it.

I don't think I would be able to rely confidently on disease- and pregnancy prevention methods that were only 66% effective. I would be wanting to double up and use several different methods in hopes that they would synergize into something closer to 100% effectiveness.