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NEW STUDY: ABSTINENCE EDUCATION EFFECTIVE; COMPREHENSIVE SEX ED A BIG FLOP


A new study released today shows that abstinence education is highly effective in reducing sexual activity among youth. It also showed "safe sex" and "comprehensive" sex ed programs to be ineffective. Students participating in an eight-hour abstinence program showed a one-third decrease in rates of sexual activity compared to non-participants. This decrease persisted a full two years after they attended the class.

By contrast, safe sex (promoting only contraceptive use) and comprehensive sex ed (teaching both abstinence and contraceptive use) programs didn't affect youth behavior at all. Students in these programs showed no reduction in sexual activity and no increase in contraceptive use, in either the short or long term. This study, conducted by Drs. John and Loretta Jemmott of the University of Pennsylvania, is the first evaluation showing positive results which employed full random assignment. As a result, it cannot be dismissed on methodological grounds.

Full report: Efficacy of a Theory-Based Abstinence-Only Intervention Over 24 Months at http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/164/2/152?home

“It’s what we’ve known all along. We have been tracking the numbers all along, and until this particular study came out, we have really been ignored. We feel that this study is one of the best ones that have been done because it is one of the first evaluations and design that have employed a ‘full random assignment -- a design that would be fair to abstinence-until-marriage education programs,” Leslee Unruh, Founder of the Abstinence Clearinghouse said. “It cannot be dismissed like other evaluations that have been done,” she added.
Read more at: http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/60865

Leslee was also featured on:

Lifesitenews.com: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/feb/10020108.html
Salem Radio News: http://www.billbennett.com/

"I think we've written off abstinence-only education without looking closely at the nature of the evidence," said John B. Jemmott III, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania who led the federally funded study. "Our study shows this could be one approach that could be used."
Read more at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/01/AR2010020102628.html?referrer=emailarticle.

“Science has finally caught up with logic and what parents have known for centuries by empirically demonstrating that equipping teens to abstain from sexual activity is an effective way to prevent teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases," Dr. David Stephens, head of the Christian Medical Association, said. “What we should learn from this experience is that while science itself is objective, scientists themselves can be biased and can mislead the public and policy makers," he said.

Read more at http://www.lifenews.com/nat5955.html.

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