R
Roger
Guest
Study: Abstinence classes don't stop sex
By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer 48 minutes ago
Students who took part in sexual abstinence programs were just as likely to
have sex as those who did not, according to a study ordered by Congress.
Also, those who attended one of the four abstinence classes that were
reviewed reported having similar numbers of sexual partners as those who did
not attend the classes. And they first had sex at about the same age as
other students - 14.9 years, according to Mathematica Policy Research Inc.
The federal government now spends about $176 million annually on
abstinence-until-marriage education. Critics have repeatedly said they don't
believe the programs are working, and the study will give them
reinforcement.
However, Bush administration officials cautioned against drawing sweeping
conclusions from the study. They said the four programs reviewed - among
several hundred across the nation - were some of the very first established
after Congress overhauled the nation's welfare laws in 1996.
Officials said one lesson they learned from the study is that the abstinence
message should be reinforced in subsequent years to truly affect behavior.
"This report confirms that these interventions are not like vaccines. You
can't expect one dose in middle school, or a small dose, to be protective
all throughout the youth's high school career," said Harry Wilson, the
commissioner of the Family and Youth Services Bureau at the Administration
for Children and Families.
For its study, Mathematica looked at students in four abstinence programs
around the country as well as students from the same communities who did not
participate in the abstinence programs. The 2,057 youths came from big
cities - Miami and Milwaukee - as well as rural communities - Powhatan, Va.,
and Clarksdale, Miss.
The students who participated in abstinence education did so for one to
three years. Their average age was 11 to 12 when they entered the programs
back in 1999.
Mathematica then did a follow up survey in late 2005 and early 2006. By that
time, the average age for participants was about 16.5. Mathematica found
that about half of the abstinence students and about half from the control
group reported that they remained abstinent.
"I really do think it's a two-part story. First, there is no evidence that
the programs increased the rate of sexual abstinence," said Chris Trenholm,
a senior researcher at Mathematica who oversaw the study. "However, the
second part of the story that I think is equally important is that we find
no evidence that the programs increased the rate of unprotected sex."
Trenholm said his second point of emphasis was important because some
critics of abstinence programs have contended that they lead to less
frequent use of condoms.
Mathematica's study could have serious implications as Congress considers
renewing this summer the block grant program for abstinence education known
as Title V. The federal government has authorized up to $50 million annually
for the program. Participating states then provide $3 for every $4 they get
from the federal government. Eight states decline to take part in the grant
program.
Some lawmakers and advocacy groups believe the federal government should use
that money for comprehensive sex education, which would include abstinence
as a piece of the curriculum.
"Members of Congress need to listen to what the evidence tells us," said
William Smith, vice president for public policy at the Sexuality Information
and Education Council of the United States, which promotes comprehensive sex
education.
"This report should give a clear signal to members of Congress that the
program should be changed to support programs that work, or it should end
when it expires at the end of June," Smith said.
Smith also said he didn't have trouble making broader generalizations about
abstinence programs based on the four reviewed because "this was supposed to
be their all-star lineup."
But a trade association for abstinence educators emphasized that the
findings represent less than 1 percent of all Title V abstinence projects
across the nation.
"This study began when (the programs) were still in their infancy," said
Valerie Huber, executive director of the National Abstinence Education
Association. "The field of abstinence has significantly grown and evolved
since that time and the results demonstrated in the Mathematica study are
not representative of the abstinence education community as a whole."
The four programs differed in many respects. One was voluntary and took
place after school. Three had mandatory attendance and served youth during
the school day. All offered more than 50 hours of classes. Two were
particularly intensive. The young people met every day of the school year.
Common topics included human anatomy and sexually transmitted diseases.
Also, classes focused on helping students set personal goals and build
self-esteem. The young people were taught to improve communication skills
and manage peer pressure.
___
On the Net:
Abstinence study:
http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/publications/PDFs/impactabstinence.pdf
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070413/ap_on_he_me/abstinence_study_11
By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer 48 minutes ago
Students who took part in sexual abstinence programs were just as likely to
have sex as those who did not, according to a study ordered by Congress.
Also, those who attended one of the four abstinence classes that were
reviewed reported having similar numbers of sexual partners as those who did
not attend the classes. And they first had sex at about the same age as
other students - 14.9 years, according to Mathematica Policy Research Inc.
The federal government now spends about $176 million annually on
abstinence-until-marriage education. Critics have repeatedly said they don't
believe the programs are working, and the study will give them
reinforcement.
However, Bush administration officials cautioned against drawing sweeping
conclusions from the study. They said the four programs reviewed - among
several hundred across the nation - were some of the very first established
after Congress overhauled the nation's welfare laws in 1996.
Officials said one lesson they learned from the study is that the abstinence
message should be reinforced in subsequent years to truly affect behavior.
"This report confirms that these interventions are not like vaccines. You
can't expect one dose in middle school, or a small dose, to be protective
all throughout the youth's high school career," said Harry Wilson, the
commissioner of the Family and Youth Services Bureau at the Administration
for Children and Families.
For its study, Mathematica looked at students in four abstinence programs
around the country as well as students from the same communities who did not
participate in the abstinence programs. The 2,057 youths came from big
cities - Miami and Milwaukee - as well as rural communities - Powhatan, Va.,
and Clarksdale, Miss.
The students who participated in abstinence education did so for one to
three years. Their average age was 11 to 12 when they entered the programs
back in 1999.
Mathematica then did a follow up survey in late 2005 and early 2006. By that
time, the average age for participants was about 16.5. Mathematica found
that about half of the abstinence students and about half from the control
group reported that they remained abstinent.
"I really do think it's a two-part story. First, there is no evidence that
the programs increased the rate of sexual abstinence," said Chris Trenholm,
a senior researcher at Mathematica who oversaw the study. "However, the
second part of the story that I think is equally important is that we find
no evidence that the programs increased the rate of unprotected sex."
Trenholm said his second point of emphasis was important because some
critics of abstinence programs have contended that they lead to less
frequent use of condoms.
Mathematica's study could have serious implications as Congress considers
renewing this summer the block grant program for abstinence education known
as Title V. The federal government has authorized up to $50 million annually
for the program. Participating states then provide $3 for every $4 they get
from the federal government. Eight states decline to take part in the grant
program.
Some lawmakers and advocacy groups believe the federal government should use
that money for comprehensive sex education, which would include abstinence
as a piece of the curriculum.
"Members of Congress need to listen to what the evidence tells us," said
William Smith, vice president for public policy at the Sexuality Information
and Education Council of the United States, which promotes comprehensive sex
education.
"This report should give a clear signal to members of Congress that the
program should be changed to support programs that work, or it should end
when it expires at the end of June," Smith said.
Smith also said he didn't have trouble making broader generalizations about
abstinence programs based on the four reviewed because "this was supposed to
be their all-star lineup."
But a trade association for abstinence educators emphasized that the
findings represent less than 1 percent of all Title V abstinence projects
across the nation.
"This study began when (the programs) were still in their infancy," said
Valerie Huber, executive director of the National Abstinence Education
Association. "The field of abstinence has significantly grown and evolved
since that time and the results demonstrated in the Mathematica study are
not representative of the abstinence education community as a whole."
The four programs differed in many respects. One was voluntary and took
place after school. Three had mandatory attendance and served youth during
the school day. All offered more than 50 hours of classes. Two were
particularly intensive. The young people met every day of the school year.
Common topics included human anatomy and sexually transmitted diseases.
Also, classes focused on helping students set personal goals and build
self-esteem. The young people were taught to improve communication skills
and manage peer pressure.
___
On the Net:
Abstinence study:
http://www.mathematica-mpr.com/publications/PDFs/impactabstinence.pdf
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070413/ap_on_he_me/abstinence_study_11