Abstinence Only Programs: Do they really work?

The federal investment in abstinence-only education spiked 74% under President George Bush to total $176 million annually. These programs received $1.3 billion in federal funds since the late 1990s even though Democrats called for cutting off federal money.

25 states refused to participate in federal abstinence-only programs. In the states that do receive funding, teachers must advocate abstinence until marriage as the only certain way to prevent unplanned pregnancies and STDs. They can’t mention contraception except to point out the failure rates.

President Obama said he supports adding other forms of contraception to the lessons as part of an "age-appropriate, medically accurate program" to reduce teen pregnancies. Congress cut $14 million from abstinence education programs last month.

The Bush administration has been accused of diverting funds from sex education to abstinence programs after the first rise in American teenage pregnancy rates in nearly 15 years. The study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed the rate of births to teenagers rose by 3% last year. About 435,000 babies were born to mothers aged between 15 and 19.

The results were a sharp reversal from 2005, when the rate hit an all-time low of 40.5 births. It was the first such increase since 1991, when teenage pregnancy rates led to an intense educational campaign on contraception, condom use, and the risk of Aids and sexually transmitted disease.

There have been many complaints about Abstinence Only Sex Education, including the following....

- Teens with zero information about birth control, or only negative information, are less likely to use any method of protection.

- Teens who promised to remain abstinent until marriage delayed sexual activity by an average of 18 months but were more likely to have unprotected sex when they did it.

- Programs don’t specify what constitutes sexual activity. Many teens girls do not consider oral or anal as having sex.

- Abstinence programs are fear-based and promote gender stereotypes. They discourage contraceptive use, promote marriage (only), and ignore sexually active teens, Lesbian / Gays, and the sexually abused.

- Examples of what the Abstinence programs teach: teen sexual activity is associated with decreased school completion, decreased income potential, depression and suicide, and reduce the probability of a stable, happy marriage.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Unlike abstinence-only, 2/3 of comprehensive sex education programs show positive affects on sexual behavior, delay initiation of sex and increases condom / contraceptive use.

What is your opinion on Abstinence Only Sex Education for teens?

Do you think they have the right to learn how to protect themselves if they do decide to become sexual active?

Should we teach them that waiting until marriage is the only choice and hope for the best?

Do Abstinence Only programs really work?

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Comment by Tony Tate on March 12, 2010 at 9:22pm: I agree with an earlier statement, that we are hypocrites. Well, some of yall are. It's hypocritical to try and teach something that you don't do. You can't teach a kid abstinence when you are a single parent with live in, or sleep over, or occasional fling boy/girlfriend. It really doesn't matter to kids that everybody else is doing it. It's an honest open and consistant line of communication that they will respect. And one that they will listen to. It's not up to the schools or social programs! IT'S YOUR JOB!

Comment by Pooh Bear on March 12, 2010 at 3:23pm: I believe that parents should teach their children their values, principles, and morals. In my house we believe in no sex before marriage that is what we teach our children. Now if my child decides to go out and have sex before marriage than he/she will have to face the consequences of that choice. Society wants to give children allt he power, making adult decisions and then when its time to face the music wthey want to shield them from that. Young girls and women have sex, get pregnant and then get an abortion. Why? because they arent ready for a baby but yet your were ready to have sex. That is crazy.As parents it is our job to instill in them our morals, values and after that they have to make the decision and they get whatever comes along with their decision.

Comment by Alonzo W. Wyatt Jr. on March 11, 2010 at 6:32pm: Miss Tia your comment is on point also and yes you should wait on love but the one you should also be someone you spend your life with and if not sometimes it becomes simply a fling. Is love enough to give up what is suppose to be that which you say you cherish so deeply. All of what I've heard so far are very good points and they should also be counted as viable. Not always is sex looked upon as dirty and animal like. Some times we tend to forget about our values in the heat of passion.

Comment by Tia on March 11, 2010 at 5:39pm: I'm really surprised and disappointed by the abstinence talk. It sounds really one sided. Instead of teaching children to cherish themselves, and teaching them what real love is, and what sex can be, we just assume that all young people want to rut like animals.

I was fortunate enough to have been taught "wait for love" and to then decide what "love" means. Teach children not to give themselves away randomly. Teach them to think about these topics Teach them to ask: Do I just want to give myself to some random person, in a relationship that won't last? Or can I build a relationship on friendship and trust, and then see.

I was raised in an innercity environment, and waited until I was ENGAGED and 23 years old to have sex, and I'm happy. Too many children choose a different path: sex before their ready.

Too many girls confuse sex as a currency for love:

"If I give sex, I'll get: love, acceptance, understanding" and that's just not the case. That's what children need to be taught. And I'm disappointed that the MB show, is just generalizing young people. Not all of us want to emulate video vixens (except if its with my husband), or have sex bc it's "what everyone is doing". Some kids are smart. Kids need to be taught to cherish themselves, think for themselves, and to the difference between love and sex.

Comment by Alisonty03 on March 11, 2010 at 4:23pm: The real issue is these young individuals are having sex, because often there is nothing to do. No activities, no rec centers, nothing to do, but have sex. Occupy their time doing something useful and they will have something else to focus on as opposed to thinking, "Oh, well, let's have sex, there's nothing else to do"!!!

Comment by Tony Fair on March 11, 2010 at 4:13pm: The Abstinence program is about as big a joke as no sex before marriage, they need to be educated on STD's, different forms of birth control and most of all the realities and financial hardships that come from raising a kid for the next 18 years, right now it's too easy for young girls to get assistance whether it's food stamps, section 8 housing, grandma baby sitting etc... this is why after the first one they have no problem having three or four more, I believe in giving kids real education and not using religious scare tactics

Comment by Jmap on March 11, 2010 at 3:04pm: Abstinence only programs are about as effective as the just say no to drugs campaign. You can talk to your kids about abstinence all you want to but when they go outside of your sights, someone else is going to mention sex. We need to be real and tell kids of abstinence but they also need to know the consequences (and knowledge) of being sexually active. I keep seeing people say we can not assume all kids are sexually active. Well, we can also not assume that all kids are abstinent. The best way to cover ourselves as adults is to teach both sides of the issue. Abstinence and protection while sexually active.

Comment by Alonzo W. Wyatt Jr. on March 11, 2010 at 1:12pm: Listen brother all are not and assume that they all are sexually active is simply wrong and the public knows this and probably feel like I do. But you are right about one they must and should always protect themselves if they are going tohave a sexual relationship with anyone. But again all are not and I don't assume that they are and some teens do believe in abstinince and have never had sex and I aplaud them for that. We also xcan control the amount content that our children consume mentally. It's that consumption that's part of the problem. I protect by having less of the content being observed by my children and therefore I can rest without having to worry about what they are doing.

Comment by Patrick on March 11, 2010 at 12:40pm: We all know doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is complete madness. We have to try something else. All of our children are having sex wether you want to believe it or not. The best we can do is to teach them how to protect themselves.

Comment by Alonzo W. Wyatt Jr. on March 11, 2010 at 11:20am: How ever anyone may lok at the programs that are there for our youth and whether they work or not. It is apparent that we all agree that something has to be done. But it is also true and only true that no sex means no baby. Therefore abstinance does work but only if there is no sexual contact between the two people. However after saying all that I am a father of teen girls and a ten year old son. Although I beleive that if I teach what I believe to be true I have to remain steadfast about the needs of my family. Education is first on the list of things I teach mine to achieve first and the career then family but only when you can best take care of a family. I also believe that marriage should also be a part of the decision making process. If parents begin to concentrate on their children more they may find that communicating with their teens would more than likely open up more. Family time is very important in this process. To many of our young people are becoming parents before they are ready and haven't even begun to finish the things that matter the most And educating themselves should be a priority.