Report Touts Abstinence Education

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Report Touts Abstinence Education

Special Report - July 6, 2012
The second and final part a national report comparing sexual risk reduction or comprehensive approaches to sex education with sexual risk avoidance or abstinence-centered approaches calls for a greater emphasis on quality abstinence education in policies and schools across the nation. The National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA) released part 2 of its report “Sexual Risk Avoidance (SRA) Education: Considerations for Protecting Teen Health” on June 19. This second portion of the report, entitled “Sexual Risk Avoidance is the Best Educational Approach Based on Theory, Research, & Effectiveness,” includes “the rationale behind recommending the Sexual Risk Avoidance [SRA] approach as the best and most effective approach for sex education instruction for American youth.” SRA is also commonly referred to as Abstinence-centered. SRA programs provide a holistic abstinence-centered approach to conversations about teen sexual activity that recognize the far-reaching consequences for sexually activity youth beyond just pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Such programs focus “on the positive benefits of reserving sexual activity for marriage” and “provides teens all the information and skills they need to make the healthiest decisions.”

The report goes on to include substantial and thorough information supporting “the theoretical frameworks that provide the foundational bases for the SRA approach.” Additionally, it highlights “the compelling research showing the effectiveness of SRA programs and the evidence-based finding supporting the delay of teen sexual initiation among other positive outcomes for youth.” Finally, the report offers national policy recommendations, including “a risk avoidance emphasis in all youth prevention strategies based on established public health models and evidence-based strategies.”

The report laments that despite mirroring “the effect public health approach most often followed in addressing other youth risks, such as tobacco, alcohol and drug use,” SRA suffers from “an orchestrated campaign of misrepresentation.” Contrary to the common perception, the report highlights findings that a majority of parents support SRA messaging in sex education that targets teens.

Among the policy proposals promoted in the report are:

Clearly prioritizing sexual risk avoidance.
Maintaining “a separate, unique funding stream to risk avoidance.”
Discontinuing federal funding of “programs that compromise teen health by normalizing sexual activity outside of marriage.”
Increasing public awareness “that all teen sex is risky.”
Setting “benchmarks for reducing non-marital teen sexual activity.”
Supporting parents “in their responsibility to be the primary sex educators of their children.”

"This report presents a fair and honest look at what really works when it comes to sex education in our classrooms. For too long, the public discussion has been characterized by hyperbole and thoughtless rhetoric that ignores facts in favor of special interest agendas. Teen sexual activity is a complex personal, cultural, and social issue. It demands an intellectual integrity that allows us to examine social science research and the impact of medical facts to arrive at the best way to teach teens about their sexuality. This report will add a much needed objectivity to the sex education debate so that the health and well-being of youth can be realized," stated Valerie Huber, Executive Director of NAEA.

Related resources:
Report Highlights Sex Education Flaws - June 20, 2012
Chacteristics of Teen Fathers - June 14, 2012
CDC Analyzes Teen Mom Contraceptive Use - January 26, 2012
Sex Standards Promote Gender Confusion - January 12, 2012
Federal Abstinence Funds Restored - January 10, 2012
NC Abortions and Teen Pregnancies Drop - December 14, 2011
Teen Sex Linked to Divorce - June 23, 2011
Abortions Down In NC, Steady Nationwide - January 18, 2011
NC Teen Pregnancy Rates Hit New Low - October 19, 2010
NC Sex Education Requirements - August 16, 2010
NC Teen Pregnancy Rates Hit 3-year Low - February 4, 2010
Controversial Curriculum Changes - February 8, 2010
NC Abortion Profile Updated - November 3, 2009
The Healthy Youth Act: What It Means For Sex Education - FNC Oct/Nov 2009
New Sex Ed Law Implementation Underway - September 3, 2009
Adolescent Sexual Health Trends Detailed - August 6, 2009
North Carolina Teen Birth Rate Increases - August 7, 2008
Ten Reasons To Keep Abstinence Education in NC - FNC - July 2009
Undermining Abstinence - FNC - January 2009
Parents Matter In Teen Decisions About Sex - October 17, 2008