Abstinence Education Shows Its Wisdom

Studies Reveal Positive Effects of Certain Sex-Ed Programs

WASHINGTON, D.C., OCT. 9, 2004 (Zenit.org).- Governmentsupport for sexual education programs that promote abstinence continues todivide opinions. The

U.S. House of Representatives voted for a 49% increase infunding for abstinence education, the Washington Times reported Monday. ASenate vote is not likely until

after the November elections.

If eventually approved, the increase would give $105 millionin federal funds for 2005 to the abstinence program, up from $70.5 million thisyear.

The federal funds are "making an impact," saidLeslee Unruh, president of the Abstinence Clearinghouse. She told theWashington Times, however, that abstinence

education still receives only $1 for every $12 given toprograms that stress condom use.

Promoting abstinence has plenty of opponents. On Sept. 28the organization Advocates for Youth released a pair of reports that, accordingto the press release, "raise

new questions about the effectiveness of theabstinence-only-until-marriage approach to sex education endorsed by thefederal government."

Research into abstinence programs in 10 states by Advocatesfor Youth reportedly shows that in the long-term there is "no long-termsuccess in delaying sexual

initiation or reducing sexual risk-taking behaviors."

Counterview

But the positive effects of delaying sexual activity isstrongly defended in studies published by the Washington-based HeritageFoundation. On Sept. 21 the

organization published a report entitled "Teens WhoMake Virginity Pledges Have Substantially Improved Life Outcomes."

The report provides statistical evidence demonstrating thatteen-agers who publicly pledge to refrain from sexual activity are less likelyto experience teen pregnancy.

And they will likely have fewer sexual partners.

The study cited data from the government-funded NationalLongitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, showing that the behavior ofadolescents who have made a

virginity pledge is significantly different from that ofpeers who have not made a pledge. Teen-age girls who have taken a virginitypledge are one-third less likely to

experience a pregnancy before age 18.

The Heritage report also observed that almost two-thirds ofteens who do not make a virginity pledge are sexually active before age 18. Bycontrast, only 30% of teens

who report having made a pledge become sexually activebefore age 18.

Even though those who pledge to chastity may eventuallybreak their commitment, the report notes that delaying the onset of sexualactivity has a number of positive

effects. One to reduce the number of sexual partners byabout half. Surveys cited in the report show that the benefits last intoadulthood. For example, women who

become sexually active in their early teen years are lesslikely to have stable marriages in their 30s when compared with women who wait.

Another advantage is the reduction in children born outsidemarriage. The report observes that children born and raised outside marriageare seven times more likely to

live in poverty than those born and raised in intact marriedfamilies. As well, they are more prone to a number of social problems, rangingfrom crime to emotional

difficulties.

Adolescent girls who make a pledge to refrain from sexualactivity are substantially less likely to give birth in their teens or early20s. By age 18, 1.8% of those who

were firmly pledged had given birth, compared with 3.8% ofgirls who did not make a pledge.

"Regrettably," the study notes, "teens todaylive in a sex-saturated popular culture that celebrates casual sex at an earlyage." Social institutions that teach abstinence

values can play an important part in helping teens to mediaand peer pressure, concludes the report.

Further support for the efficacy of abstinence programs camein a study carried out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, theWashington Times

reported July 16. The results attribute a 53% drop in teenpregnancy, from 1991 to 2000, to increased abstinence. Increased use ofcontraceptives accounted for 47%

of the decline, according to the study.

Further data showed that girls aged 15 to 17 who weresexually active decreased from 50.6% in 1991 to 42.7% in 2001.

Comprehensive, in theory

Another report published by the Heritage Foundation helpsexplain why abstinence programs can help change teens' behavior. The study,"Comprehensive Sex

Education vs. Authentic Abstinence: A Study of CompetingCurricula," was published Aug. 10. It explained that in the past therewere two basic approaches to sex

education. There was the "safe sex" approach,which encourages teens to use contraception, especially condoms; and abstinenceeducation, which focuses on delaying

the onset of sexual activity.

In recent years a new approach, termed"abstinence-plus" or "comprehensive sexuality education,"has been developed. This combines, in theory, information on

abstinence and contraception.

Research for the report analyzed nine major abstinence-pluscurricula and nine abstinence curricula. It revealed that in practice theabstinence-plus programs devoted

only 4.7% of their page content to the topic of abstinenceand 0% to healthy relationships and marriage.

Moreover, a detailed analysis of the contents ofcomprehensive sex-ed programs shows that their aim is not to have teens abstainfrom sexual activity. Rather, their aim

is to reduce the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitteddiseases that results from "unprotected" sexual activity."Abstinence -- or not having sex -- is mentioned as

one option that teens may consider to avoid risks, but theoverwhelming emphasis is on reducing risk by encouraging contraceptiveuse."

By contrast, the programs promoting abstinence "take amore holistic approach to human sexuality." They place more emphasis onthe social and psychological

aspects of sex. As well, they examine themes such as love,intimacy and commitment. "Young people are taught that human sexuality isnot primarily physical, but

moral, emotional and psychological in nature."

The abstinence programs also promote the idea that"personal happiness, love and intimacy are most likely to occur within thecommitment of a faithful marriage and

that, in contrast, casual sex with multiple partners islikely to undermine the natural process of bonding and intimacy."

Where pregnancies rose

The ill effects of sex education programs that merelypromote "safe sex" were made evident in a study published earlierthis year in England. On March 14 the

London-based Telegraph reported on a survey carried out bythe Family Education Trust, entitled "Sex Education orIndoctrination?" The survey analyzed zones

where the government's Teen-age Pregnancy Unit had set upprograms to reduce the number of girls falling pregnant.

The unit's strategy involves more explicit sex education inschools, often conducted by nurses without teachers present. It also hands outfree condoms and sends

birthday cards when girls reach 14 asking them to attendconfidential health checks without their parents.

The Trust's report found that in most places, there was arise in teen-age pregnancies following the implementation of these programs.One, in Cornwall, saw a 17%

rise in teen-age pregnancies between 2001 and 2002. In York,teen pregnancies soared 34%.

Scotland saw similar results after programs were introducedto distribute free morning-after pills and condoms, the Sunday Times reportedApril 11. Girls aged 13 to

15 in the zone affected, the Lothians, were 14% more likelyto get pregnant than their counterparts elsewhere in Scotland, compared with 3%before the program

started.

The region was selected as a test area for the government'sHealthy Respect project. Cardinal Keith O'Brien, president of the Scottishbishops' conference, said the

Healthy Respect model had failed. He urged that it shouldnot be expanded.

"This approach has failed to tackle the rise insexually transmitted infections, unwanted conceptions and abortionlevels," he said. "Its value-free style should certainly

not be used elsewhere in Scotland." Evidence ismounting, on both sides of the Atlantic, on the advantages of programs thatpromote abstinence and a more

comprehensive view of human sexuality.

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