A new study on sex education in schools revealed the importance of abstinence-only sex education for pre-teens, and that it is effective in delaying sexual activity and reducing pregnancy and venereal diseases.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, shows that children taught abstinence are more likely to delay having sex than those given lessons about contraception.
The controlled study involved 662 students in grades 6 and 7. Students were randomly assigned to an eight-hour abstinence-only intervention, an eight-hour safe-sex-only intervention, an 8- or 12-hour combined abstinence and ‘safer-sex’ intervention, or an 8-hour health-promotion control group.
There was a 33 per cent reduction in self-reported sexual intercourse from the abstinence-only group, compared to the control group, by the end of the study. Of the students who reported that they were sexually active during the study, there were fewer reports of recent sexual activity from the abstinence-only intervention participants (20.6 per cent) compared to the control participants (29.0 per cent).
Participants in the abstinence-only intervention had reduced reports of multiple sexual partners compared with the control group (8.8 per cent against 14.1 per cent).
After two years, one-third of the abstinence-only group reported having sex, compared to one-half of the control group.
The study was compiled and released by Drs John and Loretta Jemmott from the University of Pennsylvania and Dr Geoffrey Fong from the University of Waterloo and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research in Waterloo, Ontario.
Dr John Jemmott published the results in the journal Archives of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. He said that the study showed that abstinence classes could be effective in curbing the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
‘Abstinence-only interventions may have an important role in delaying sexual activity until a time later in life when the adolescent is more prepared to handle to consequences of sex,’ he said.
‘The take-home message is that we need a variety of interventions to address an epidemic like HIV, sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy… There are populations that really want an abstinence intervention. They are against telling children about condoms.
‘This study suggests abstinence programs can be part of the mix of programs that we offer.’
Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council, a US organization dedicated to the promotion of marriage and family and the sanctity of human life in national policy, said:
‘This study tells us clearly that abstinence education, not the promotion of high-risk sexual behaviour among teens, is needed.’
Leslee Unruh, President of the National Abstinence Clearing House, said the study shows what abstinence teachers have already known ‘for years’.
‘These programs help develop self-control and self-esteem, teaching kids they do not need to fall prey to the game of Russian Roulette with condoms.
‘Abstinence programs show kids there are too many great things riding on their future to risk it to STDs, pregnancy and broken hearts. Abstinence is a message our kids want to hear – this study shows youth are making healthier choices and changing their behaviour in response to this refreshing message,’ he said.
The UK Government, which favours school teaching about contraception, dismissed the research, insisting there was still ‘no evidence’ that abstinence education was effective.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families said: ‘We want to give young people the facts’.
Andrea Minichiello Williams, Director of CCFON, said: ‘Despite growing concern about high teenage conception rates and escalating rates of sexually transmitted diseases among young people, we are constantly told that the provision of ‘quality sex and relationship education’ to every child in every school is the solution. Instead of teaching children about sexual purity, the importance of marriage and respect for parents, schools are put under pressure from the liberal establishment to teach moral relativism when it comes to sexual activity. We need a radical change in the way we teach children sex and relationship education.’