Associated Baptist Press - Study finds abstinence-only programs effective in delaying sex

Study finds abstinence-only programs effective in delaying sex

By Bob Allen

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

PHILADELPHIA (ABP) -- A new study by University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine says that abstinence-only sex-education programs are effective in getting some pre-teens to delay having sex.

The study, which appeared in the Feb. 1 edition of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, divided 662 African-American students in grades 6 and 7 into classes held on Saturdays in four public schools.

Students were randomly assigned to classes using abstinence-only, safe-sex and comprehensive sex-education approaches. Another group received general education about health issues not related to sex.

After two years, researchers found that 33 percent of young teenagers in the abstinence-only group reported sexual activity. That compared to 52 percent of those taught condom use and 42 percent of those instructed in both approaches.

Researchers said they found no significant differences among the groups of the numbers of youth using condoms when they eventually did become sexually active. A common criticism of abstinence-only programs is that they discourage condom use and thereby actually may contribute to teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases in those who break purity vows.

The abstinence-only program used in the study did not suggest delaying sex until marriage, a feature of faith-based programs like the Southern Baptist Convention's popular True Love Waits used by an estimated 2.5 million teenagers and college students since 1994.

Previous studies have questioned the effectiveness of relying solely on sex-education programs in which teenagers pledge to remain virgins until they are married. Despite that, the Bush administration pumped millions of dollars into abstinence-only sex education.

After declining for more than a decade, teen pregnancy rose 3 percent in 2006, according to recent figures released by the Guttmacher Institute. At the same time teen births grew by 4 percent and teen abortions by 1 percent.

President Obama's proposed 2011 budget eliminates funding for abstinence-only programs and shifts funding to programs for "evidence-based" comprehensive sex-education programs shown to prevent teen pregnancy.

Observers expect the new study, the first to compare various approaches in a controlled setting, to reignite the policy debate over funding of sex education in public schools.

"In light of this study and others showing the positive health benefits of abstinence education, it is unfortunate that this Congress and administration has zeroed out abstinence education in favor of sex-ed programs that advocate high-risk sexual behavior when it is children and young teens who suffer the consequences," Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council said in a statement.

Doctors involved in the study warned that public policy should not be based on the findings of a single study and lawmakers should not selectively use scientific literature to formulate policy to conform policy to their preconceived views.

"Policy should not be based on just one study, but an accumulation of empirical findings from several well-designed, well-executed studies," the study's lead author, psychologist John B. Jemmott III, said in a statement.

The study did not use a moralistic tone or portray sex in a negative light, but encouraged abstinence as a way to eliminate the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

Jemmott said the study indicated that such programs can be effective in persuading youth to delay their first sexual encounter until they are older, when they are more mature and better equipped to resist peer pressure and understand the negative consequences of having sex.

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This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it is senior writer for Associated Baptist Press.

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written by KT2005, February 03, 2010

I find it amazing that Christian parents allow their children to attend government schools. These people cannot even agree that sex is only for married people! Why would any Christian parent allow the lost world to educate their child! We reap what we sow. . . Don't be surprised when your child's virginity is lost.

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written by singer2, February 03, 2010

Come on, KT, you know Jesus's commandment: "...in the world, but not of the world." If we remove our witness from the public schools, have we not pulled a "Jonah" ? And what of the many, many families (like my daughter and son-in-law)who live in a small village, where the public school is nearby, they know all the teachers, the nearest private school is many miles away and not as academically qualified? Here, both parents are Christian, heavily involved in their local church, and both committed to teaching their children (my 4 grandchildren) to be the "salt". I am proud of them for their witness, and proud of their commitment to live in the world but be not of it.

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written by KT2005, February 03, 2010

I respect your intent singer2, but a children's crusade is ineffective and foolhardy. Students do not teach teachers. The government is pushing homosexuality and safe sex in public schools. God is outlawed from class. How can any Christian believe education without Christ being its center is healthy? Statistics say our children are being corrupted and are anything but salt and light. The Bible told us this would happen if we would have just listened.

Luke 6:40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.

Our children are secular because we allowed the secular schools to teach them. Why are we shocked at the results? Teach children the truths of God and then as adults they will be salt and light. Give your children to smart secular teachers and your beloved little ones will become secular. . . the Bible tells me so.

Why would you want to try to undo at home what secular teachers have taught your child? Give your children the best: Christian education. . . by homeschool or private Christian school.

Lastly, most public schools are horrible education to begin with. If you do not believe me hand a book to 5 young men and ask them to read aloud. You will cringe as they stumble and bumble their way through simple sentences. The church must get back into K-12 education again!

Expertise
written by Slick, February 04, 2010

I wonder what made kt such an expert on schools and education. I wonder if he has any education from a real school, college, university, graduate school. I wonder if he thinks anybody here really cares what he writes.

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written by singer2, February 04, 2010

Just for the record, KT, I never said children are to teach teachers, but to be salt and light for the classroom, sometimes the very salt and light those communities need. However, I am sure there are more students wanting to do well than not, and more teachers committing their lives to solid teaching than not. I have good friends who homeschool with incredible commitment and care, or enter their children in solid private schools, but this does not solve society's problem. Furthermore, Christian indoctrination in schools violates church and state, whether you like it or not, and frankly, I would not want a public school teacher attempting to teach/interpret the Bible for my kids---we did that at home and through our church, the way the system is supposed to work. Perhaps, KT, you should visit some of the schools where education really works---I'm thinking of a public elementary school where one of my former students is principal, in an area where she has to work to get parents involved, and another school where one of my former students is a math and music teacher---he chose it because, he says, 'after I take the switchblades from their hands,' I can show them another way." KT, it begs the question, "do you or I have that kind of commitment?"

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written by KT2005, February 04, 2010

Once again singer, I admire your heart. I didn't mean to put words in your mouth when I said students do not teach teachers. I simply meant to say that in the classroom the teacher has the bulk of power/influence, not the student. Government school is a monopoly that I would like to see broken up. Parents should be given tax credits to send their child to any school they like. Under this plan parents could send their children to Christian schools. The supreme court has said this is acceptable. I believe we have been trying to make our children salt and light for quite some time. How is that working for us and the lost world? We are losing our impressionable children to the world. Also, public schools are not run by the public. Teachers unions and the courts control everything. Tax credits/vouchers/scholarships would break up the monopoly and empower parents to choose what is best for their child. For Christians Christ centered education is the best kind of education. If we agree with this, then why don't we try to give our children the best?

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written by KT2005, February 04, 2010

Slick,

Arguments stand upon their own weight regardless of which man or woman is talking. Hitler can say killing Jews is wrong. By doing so he would be both hypocritical and right. This logic makes your expertise requirement fall flat. You seem to want only those trained by the secular education establishment to be able to criticize public schools. I am sure you will not be shocked to learn that those trained by the education system love it.

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written by singer2, February 04, 2010

KT---you're not going to like my response, so, with all due respect, I will not take this past this comment. As a teacher in a Baptist university, I have had a part in sending many young educators into public schools. Some have done very well, and some have not, but most of them have been the type of teachers and mentors I would want my grandchildren to emulate. If my grands are taken out of those schools into a closed atmosphere, they don't have the opportunity to encounter other belief systems, or understand how to deal with children who don't have both parents at home, etc. That doesn't harm them, because they bring those issues home, their parents help them deal with them, and, often, pray about them. You can pull them out an put them in a closed commune, but one day they will have to work in the secular world, get along with different people, and be salt and light---it may be too late then for them to learn. Blessings on you, sir, and please don't proceed with generalized opinions such as "teachers unions run the schools." Voicing such ideas tells those of us who know that you really are stating a disoriented opinion rather than fact. Best to you...last post.

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written by KT2005, February 04, 2010

singer2,

You have surprised me a bit. I am all for adults working in public schools and being salt and light, but the results of impressionable children in public schools makes me against the practice. What surprised me is that you are a teacher at a Baptist University. Are your students unfamiliar with the "secular" world when they graduate. No, because the good Christian education you give prepares them for the world. All I want to do is provide Christian education for K-12 the way you provide Christian education for college students. The K-12 graduate will not be in a cocoon anymore than your graduates are in a commune. I want to run K-12 the way we run our college system in the U.S. The government gives scholarships and allows students to choose the school they attend. Why not do the same thing with K-12? I really find it a mystery that people are die hard supporters of a poorly performing monopoly. You would not support a monopoly system at the college level because your Christian university would be put out of business. Why support this poor system at the K-12 level?

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written by singer2, February 04, 2010

Our faculty members in the School of Education are believers who have had stints in public school administration and teaching---this means that they are in constant demand as consultants to schools and the state dept of education---they are influencing change---all of our discipline-specific faculty in certification areas do the same. my association with Baptist colleges has been wonderful, and your point is arguable. The issue that is most bothersome, however, is that of government scholarships used in parochial (i.e., Christian) schools. It breaches separation of church and state and allows all kinds of government control into your system. I fear you and I don't have enough lifetimes to build in procedures that would avoid that. "Give to Caesar" was a timeless rule from our Lord. In this season of efforts to merge church and state, we need to listen to his teaching. Now, I am done...for sure!

singer
written by Slick, February 05, 2010

Singer, your comments are correct and come from an experience that give you credibility to speak on this subject. During the 90s, I also was on the teacher education faculty of a Baptist institution in GA. Like your department, we prepared teachers to go into public school work without leaving their Christian walk at home when they went to work. I still stay in touch with many of them as well as many that I taught and coached in my days as public school teacher. I am amazed at how many of them are so open about their faith today as expressed on social networking sites. Some public schools do have problems--no question--but Christian teachers in public schools do make a positive difference in the lives of their students. Teach on.

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written by KT2005, February 05, 2010

lol, Thanks for your input Singer. I do admire what you do and very much support Christians teaching in government schools. This issue is no doubt complicated. I want to come back to the fact that your Christian college receives government money through the G.I. bill, Pell grants, etc. Such government money does not corrupt your Christian school. This being true, I would argue that tax credits to parents would not corrupt Christian K-12 schools. Tax credits are much better than vouchers. Thank you for a wonderful conversation!

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written by singer2, February 05, 2010

Yes, this has been good, and thnx Slick for your input. One of the differences with GI Bills and Pells is that the money goes directly from government to student accounts, rather than to the university coffers. But there have been times when the government has tried to build restrictions into these grants, i.e., bills that define what faculty can be hired---if the money went straight to university budgets, they would have a case. With it going to the student, the universities have the freedom they need. It is still a cautious point, and one where we need to retain the definition. Good points, my friends, and blessings.

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