Myth #1: Abstinence Education does not work.
FACT: Abstinence is the only healthy and responsible option for students. Analysis of the National Longitudinal Adolescent Health survey and the National Survey of Family Growth shows that teens that are not sexually active are at a decreased risk for many negative life outcomes such as: out-of-wedlock pregnancies, STDs, marital instability, abortion, depression, feelings of unhappiness, and attempted suicide.(1)
Abstinence Education has been proven to reduce teen pregnancy. In August, the CDC released a report showing that increased teen abstinence is the most significant factor in the decline of the teen pregnancy rate (2). A peer-reviewed Adolescent and Family Health journal article published in 2003 showed that increased abstinence was responsible for 67 percent of the decline in the pregnancy rate among unmarried teens(3).
Myth #2: Abstinence Education is a ‘just say no’ program.
FACT: Abstinence education is so much more! It is reality based relationship education. Building healthy relationship is at the core of abstinence education. Understanding relationships and how to develop and build them is key to building character traits such as respect, honor, and commitment. (AE101)
Myth #3: Teens today are not abstaining.
FACT: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the percentage of teens who said they have never been sexually active has risen. In 1991, 42.6 percent of males and 49.2 percent of females reported to be virgins. In 2005 these percentages have risen to 52.1 percent in males and 54.3 percent in females. The study also revealed that 66.7 percent of teen males and 65.4 percent of teen females in high-school are not “currently sexually active”. (4) Teens have the ability to make healthy choices to ensure a successful future without heartache and compromise.
Myth #4: Abstinence Education is full of inaccurate medical statements.
FACT: Abstinence education is medically accurate. Abstinence educators use scientific, peer reviewed research published from the most established medical resources including the CDC and FDA. More than 100 members of its Medical Advisory Council ensure the accuracy of the educator’s resources. (AE101)
Myth #5: Abstinence Education is only useful for sexually abstinent students.
FACT: Abstinence education offers something for everyone! Through messages of encouragement and hope every adolescent regardless of their family structure or sexual past will benefit from this program. The goal of abstinence education is to teach that each person can have healthy relationships without including sexual activity until marriage. (AE 101)
Myth #6: Abstinence education is full of religious indoctrination.
FACT: Federal abstinence dollars provide guidelines that prevent proselytizing. Can abstinence education be taught in a church setting? Yes.
Abstinence education is a public health concern. The CDC cites abstinence from sexual activity as the primary prevention against all STD’s and HIV/AIDS. Other methods to “reduce the harm” are categorized as secondary or tertiary prevention. (5).
Myth #7: An abstinence policy is the same as using Authentic Abstinence curricula.
FACT: An abstinence policy is NOT the same as authentic abstinence education. Florida Statute 1003.46 covers AIDS prevention instruction and states that schools must teach the benefits of "abstinence from sexual activity outside of marriage as the expected standard for all school-age students while teaching the benefits of monogamous heterosexual marriage."
The conclusion that curriculum entitled “Abstinence Plus” or “Comprehensive Sex” teaches authentic abstinence education is false. Research of the leading “Comprehensive Sex Education” programs revealed that only 4.7% of their content is allocated to abstinence. While on the contrary, Authentic abstinence curriculum devotes an average of 71% to abstinence. (6)
Myth #8: A majority of parents don’t support abstinence education.
FACT: According to an April 2007 Zogby Poll, when parents became aware of what abstinence education vs. comprehensive sex education actually teaches support for abstinence programs jumped from 40-60% while support of comprehensive sex ed. dropped from 50% to 30%.(Zogby Poll) The survey also revealed that 2 out of 3 parents believe promoting alternatives to actual intercourse (i.e. showering together, etc.) encourage sexual activity. The message of “wait to have sex” gets lost when programs encourage the use of contraception. (7)
Myth #9: Abstinence is not sound public policy.
FACT: Abstinence is sound public health policy. Abstinence until marriage is the only 100 percent protection against unplanned pregnancies, STD’s, and emotional pain. People who engage in sexual activity are more likely to be depressed, have suicidal thoughts, and attempt suicide than people who do not engage in sexual activity before marriage. (8)
Myth #10: The recent Mathematica report has proven abstinence education does not work.
FACT: The Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. released a report in April 2007 that only reviewed 4 out of 700 abstinence education programs (less than 1 percent). A program begun in middle school for one year and left without reinforcement in later years has little chance of success. The programs followed were without the usual consistent follow up and reinforcement of the training that is the suggested norm for any program’s successful implementation. Abstinence education has dramatically improved from its beginning in the Welfare Reform Act initiated by the Clinton Administration in 1996. (9)
Interestingly enough Mathematica released an earlier report in 2005 saying that abstinence education worked in its first year. Success in following years would have been more easily obtained had the program continued in each of those years. (10)
REFERENCES:
1. Rector RE, Johnson KA, PH.D., Noyes LR, Martin S. The Harmful Effects of Early Sexual Activity and Multiple Sexual Partners among Women: A Book of Charts. Washington, DC: The Heritage Foundation; June 2003.
2. Santelli JS, Abma J, Ventura S, et al. Can changes in sexual behaviors among high school students explain the decline in teen pregnancy rates in the 1990s? Journal of Adolescent Health. 2004; 35(2):80-90
3. Santelli JS, Abma J, Ventura S, et al. Can changes in sexual behaviors among high school students explain the decline in teen pregnancy rates in the 1990s? Journal of Adolescent Health. 2004; 35(2):80-90
4. Youth online: Comprehensive comparative data, YRBS 1991-2005. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2005. Available at: http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/yrbss/SelQuestyear.asp?cat=4&desc=Sexual%20Behaviors&loc=XX/. Accessed December 20, 2006
5. Gerberding JL. Report to Congress, Prevention of Genital Human Papillomavirus Infection. Washington, DC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; January 2004.
6. Building the Foundation: Outlining the Abstinence Framework Pgs. 42, 46-47. “Great to Wait” Abstinence Training Workshop; The Florida Department of Health Abstinence Education Program, May 2007
7. Zogby International Survey April 2007 available at www.abstinenceassociatoin.org.(“Get Real about AIDS” Teacher’s Guide Second Edition 1995 Lesson 2 Pg.79.)
8. Rector R, Johnson KA, Noyes L. Sexually active teenagers are more likely to be depressed and to attempt suicide. Washington, DC: The Heritage Foundation. Center for Data Analysis Report #03-04, 2003.
9. Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. Report April 2007. Impacts of Four Title V Section 510 Abstinence Education Programs available at:
www.mathematica-mpr.com/publications/PDFs/impactabstinence.pdf
A Brief History of Federal Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Funding available at:
http://www.siecus.org/policy/states/2005/Explanation.pdf
10. Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
www.mathematica-mpr.com/welfare/abstinence.asp
AE 101- All referenced sources with this coding can be found in “Abstinence Education 101” Published by National Abstinence Clearinghouse 801 E. 41st Street Sioux Falls, SD 57105. They can be contacted at 1-888-577-2966.
ALL References are not cited on their website. |
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