Transcript Abstinence Only Vs. Comprehensive Sexuality Education

Abstinence Only Vs.
Comprehensive
Sexuality Education
PART II: What is the difference?
Two Forms of Sex Education

Abstinence-Only

Comprehensive

Abstinence-Only Focuses on teaching
young people that
abstaining from sex until
marriage is the best
means of ensuring that
they avoid infection with
HIV, other STDs and
unintended pregnancies.
Abstinence, Sex Education and HIV Prevention (96-2008)

Comprehensive –
Stresses that abstinence
is the only way to
completely prevent STD’s
and pregnancy, but also
provides information
about safer sex and
communication so that
teens that choose to be
sexually active will have
the tools they need to be
safe.
Crooks, R & Baur, K., p. 345-346
Which method is BEST?
One of the ways in
which the debate
between supporters
of abstinence and
comprehensive
approaches to sex
education has been
framed is in terms
of which is the most
effective.
EVIDENCE
“There is good evidence, from programs that were
implemented in the US, UK and Europe that prove
comprehensive sex education can reduce behaviors that
put young people at risk of HIV, STDs and unintended
pregnancy.”
“Studies have repeatedly shown too that this kind of sex
education does not lead to the earlier onset of sexual
activity among young people and, in some cases, will
even lead to it happening later.”
Abstinence, Sex Education and HIV Prevention (96-2008)
EVIDENCE cont..
Comprehensive sex education is also age
appropriate, developmentally appropriate,
introducing information on relationship,
decision making assertiveness, and skill
building to resist social/peer pressure,
depending on grade level.
Information is also medically accurate
when dealing with contraceptives.
Advocates for Youth
EVIDENCE
As part of welfare reform, Congress
passed legislation in 1996 $50 million in
federal funds for abstinence-until-marriage
programs – which censor information
about contraceptives.
The abstinence programs receive about
$158 million a year from the federal
Department of Health and Human
Services.
Since then, despite no evidence of
the effectiveness of these
programs and Americans
opposition to federal funding for
them, the government has dumped
more and more taxpayer money
into unrealistic and unproven
abstinence-only programs.
PROFESSIONALS

Today, youth face serious health issues
and too often encounter barriers to the
information and services that they need!
PARENTS


When parents talk to and affirm the value
of their children, young people are more
likely to develop positive, healthy attitudes
about themselves.
“Research shows that positive communication between
parents and their children can help young people
establish individual values and make healthy decisions.”
Advocates for Youth, 2008
“According to Barbara Huberman,
RN, MEd, Director of Education
and Outreach for Advocates for
Youth, parents who act on the
belief that young people have the
right to accurate sexuality
information are parents whose
teens will delay the intuition of
intimacy and use contraceptives
when they choose to become
sexually active.”
POLICY MAKERS


Youth want accurate information and
answers to their questions.
They want respect and to be taken
seriously.
“Research continues to show
that comprehensive sex
education, which teaches both
abstinence and contraception, is
most effective for young
people.”
“Youth who receive this kind of
education are more likely to
initiate sexual activity later in life
and use protection correctly and
consistently when they do
become sexually active.”
Evaluations of comprehensive sex
education programs show that
these programs:




Delay the onset of sexual activity
Reduce frequency of sexual activity
Reduce number of sexual partners
Increases contraceptive use
Advocates for Youth, 2008
Importantly, the evidence shows
that these programs do not
encourage teens to become
sexually active.
RESPONSIBLE SEX EDUCATION
PROGRAMS WORK!!