Abstinence Education

By Carol Kidwell

A growing body of research shows that well-executed abstinence education programs are displaying notable results. However, the media overwhelmingly claims that Abstinence Education is a waste of money and a failure.

For example, last January there was a media flurry over a study that reported abstinence pledges do not work, so consequently abstinence education does not work and thus so-called “comprehensive” sex education should be used instead. What was not reported clearly was the religiously active teens with conservative parents who took an abstinence pledge and the religiously active teens with conservative parents who did not take an abstinence pledge did not tend to lose their virginity until age 21. The average American teen usually loses his/her virginity by age 17.

Evidence of abstinence education success is also revealed through survey results of teens who received abstinence education from Let’s Talk Healthy Relationships. “Let’s Talk” has been providing abstinence education within the Anchorage area for 18 years and is currently invited to reach most 7th and 8th graders in the Anchorage School District (ASD). During the last year, 8,299 youth (age 12-18) within Alaska received abstinence education from Let’s Talk. A sample of the youth were evaluated by The Institute for Research and Evaluation (IRE) and based on the changes observed of key predictors of youth sex, IRE estimate the youth reached through this program will be 31% less likely to participate in sexual activity over the next year.

IRE is a leading researcher on youth behavior, has nearly 20 years of experience in the field conducting abstinence education evaluations in more than 30 states. The research of Dr. Stan Weed and colleagues at IRE shows that abstinence education can reduce the chance of youth initiating sex within one year by half by targeting certain key predictors of sexual behavior. Further, their review of sex education literature reveals that comprehensive sex education, while sometimes promoting abstinence outcomes, has little evidence of success at increasing condom use for longer than 6 months and additionally leaves many youth with no increase in condom use.

It is easy to say abstinence education is merely pointing a finger to just say no but it is so much more in depth. Abstinence education teaches about the possible holistic affects when a teen chooses to participate in sexual activity and gives tools to achieve continuation or return to abstinence.

Just as there is an obscured politically charged perception about abstinence education, comprehensive sex education is not necessarily what it is perceived either. In May 2007, the Department of Health and Human Services released a report reviewing comprehensive sex education curriculum. Homework assignments include going shopping for condoms and identifying the different types. Also, in Be Proud! Be Responsible! comprehensive sex curricula, “showering together” is a “green light” (no risk) activity (page 60). Not to mention, medical inaccuracies were found in three of the nine curricula reviewed. The complete report can be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/content/docs/comprehensive.pdf. The primary focus of comprehensive sex education is to increase the use of condoms and contraceptives while the primary focus of abstinence education is to reach the heart of youth to see the real possible consequences if choosing to participate in sexual activity, how those consequences could affect his/her future and how to avoid vulnerable situations.

Let’s Talk receives federal abstinence education funding to serve youth ages 12-18 and is invited to reach most 7th and 8th graders in the ASD. Comparing ASD 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey results, it shows something is being done right in the ASD middle schools. ASD results revealed only 2.1% of the boys and 1.6% of girls had sexual intercourse prior to age 13 while the US average was 10.1% and 4.0% respectively. Also, ASD 9th graders reported 26.2% had ever had sexual intercourse while the US average was 32.8%. However, ASD 10th graders (46%) were higher than the national average (43.8%).

It is interesting to point out that studies show sexual delay debut is about 12-18 months after receiving abstinence education and though Let’s Talk services are available, high schools within the Anchorage area are minimally requesting the service. In the last six years, Let’s Talk was the only Community Based Abstinence Education grant funded program in Alaska. In order for Let’s Talk to provide abstinence education, a school must invite its services. During the 2007-2008 school year, Let’s Talk was invited to serve only 411 of the 13,000+ ASD high school students (3% of the student body) for an average of 3.1 hours. In the Mat-Su Valley, high schools requested an average of 1.2 hours for 249 students. The amount of contraceptive education high school students received is unknown, but assuredly more than abstinence.

“Comprehensive” programs spend less than 10 percent of class time promoting abstinence. Youth can receive balanced "comprehensive sex education" by contraceptive education presented separately from abstinence education. Information provided must reach the heart of the students to influence their choices. Abstinence education doesn’t prevent schools from choosing to have other organizations provide contraceptive education.

According to a study by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, teen childbearing within the US cost taxpayers $9.1 billion in 2004. Teens 17 and under accounted for $8.6 billion of that total; an average of $4,080 per teen mother annually. Given the evaluation results of youth served by Let’s Talk, it does make sense to continue funding abstinence education yet all students (age 12-18) need to be reached annually through grade 12 to make the greatest impact. 

Carol Kidwell is Program Director for Let’s Talk Healthy Relationships of CPC Pregnancy Center in Anchorage.