Pregnant Young Sex

Abstinence-only sex education is a form of sex education that emphasizes abstinence from sex, and often excludes many other types of sexual and reproductive health education, particularly regarding birth control and safe sex. This type of sex education promotes sexual abstinence until marriage and avoids discussion of use of contraceptives. Comprehensive sex education covers the use of contraceptives as well as abstinence. Proponents of abstinence-only education argue that comprehensive education encourages premarital sexual activity, while critics argue that abstinence-only education constitutes religious interference in education, distorts information about contraceptive methods, and does not provide adequate information to protect the health of youths.

Discussion

Proponents of abstinence-only sex education argue that this approach is superior to comprehensive sex education because it emphasizes the teaching of morality that limits sex to that within the bounds of marriage, and that sex before marriage and at a young age has heavy physical and emotional costs. They suggest that comprehensive sex education encourages premarital sexual activity among teenagers, which should be discouraged in an era when HIV and other incurable sexually transmitted infections are widespread and when teen pregnancy is an ongoing concern.

Opponents and critics, which include prominent professional associations in the fields of medicine, public health, adolescent health, and psychology, argue that such programs fail to provide adequate information to protect the health of adolescents. Some critics also argue that such programs verge on religious interference in secular education. Opponents of abstinence-only education dispute the claim that comprehensive sex education encourages teens to have premarital sex. The idea that sexual intercourse should only occur within marriage also has serious implications for people for whom marriage is not valued or desired, or is unavailable as an option, particularly homosexuals living in places where same-sex marriage is not legal or socially acceptable. Abstinence-only sex education has also been accused of distorting information about contraceptives, including only revealing failure rates associated with their use, and ignoring discussion of their benefits.

Scientific position

A federally-funded University of Pennsylvania study published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine found that only one third of sixth- and seventh-graders who completed abstinence-focused programs had sex within the next two years, compared to nearly half of the students who attended other classes, including ones that taught combined abstinence and contraception. The study has been called "game-changing" by supporters of abstinence-only sex education. Critics pointed out that the abstinence program used in the study was not representative of most abstinence programs; it did not take a moralistic tone, encouraged children to delay sex until ready instead of until married, did not portray extramarital sex as inappropriate, and did not disparage contraceptives.

According to SIECUS, the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, an organisation that promotes sex education in the United States, a "...study, conducted by Mathematica Policy Research Inc. on behalf of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, found that abstinence-only-until-marriage programs are ineffective."

A 2010 report by the Guttmacher Institute, a division of Planned Parenthood, pointed out that pregnancy rates for teens 15-19 reversed their decline in 2006, near the peak of the Abstinence Only campaign in the United States. Sarah Kliff of Newsweek pointed out that there was no corresponding "indication of an uptick" in teen pregnancy rates when abstinence-only sex education funding was increased during the Clinton years, but in fact a small decline. James Wagoner, president of the nonprofit group Advocates for Youth, blames the poor quality of Bush era abstinence-only programs as compared to abstinence-only programs under Clinton's administration for the difference in outcomes.

See also

  • Sex education in the United States
  • Religious views on birth control
  • Sexual norm
  • Virginity pledge

Notes

  1. ^ PBS, February 4, 2005 Religion & Ethics Newsweekly, Episode 823 Retrieved on 2007-14-03
  2. ^ Douglas Kirby, Ph. D.: Emerging Answers: Research Findings on Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy. National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 2001. Homepage of the study.
  3. ^ Efficacy of a Theory-Based Abstinence-Only Intervention Over 24 Months . http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/164/2/152?home .  
  4. ^ Stein, Rob (February 2, 2010). "Abstinence-only programs might work, study says" . http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/01/AR2010020102628.html .  
  5. ^ http://www.thebody.com/content/art2406.html
  6. ^ SIECUS Fact Sheet (includes research citations).
  7. ^ http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/oct/07101109.html
  8. ^ Table 1.0,“U.S. Teenage Pregnancies, Births and Abortions: National and State Trends and Trends by Race and Ethnicity." http://www.guttmacher.org/media/nr/2010/01/26/index.html, downloaded 20100127.
  9. ^ "Why Bush’s Abstinence-Only Policies Are (Probably) Not to Blame for the Teen-Pregnancy Increase". Newsweek . January 27, 2010 . http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/thegaggle/archive/2010/01/27/why-bush-s-abstinence-only-policies-are-probably-not-to-blame-for-teen-pregnancy-increase.aspx .  
  10. ^ http://www.aolnews.com/health/article/study-teaching-abstinence-works-better-than-sex-ed/19341448

References

  • Williams, Mary E. (Ed.). (2006). Sex: opposing viewpoints . Detroit:

    Sex and young people - Live Well - NHS Choices

    Introduction to articles and videos on sex and young people. Includes contraception, STIs, peer pressure, saying no to sex, pregnancy and knowing if you're ready for sex.

    ...

    Young London Matters - Croydon, Teenage Pregnancy ...

    Young London Matters is a London approach to the Government Office for London initiative, Every Child Matters. YLM is a partnership initiative with GOL that brings together ...

    ...

    Home - Young Pregnant & Parenting

    This site is for young pregnant women and young people with ... How does being pregnant or having a baby affect your relationship? Safer sex:

    ...

    Young Adult Health - Health Topics - Pregnancy ...

    For people who have planned and wanted a child, the news of pregnancy is wonderful. For some young people ... These pills need to be taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex ...

    ...

    FPA : Pregnancy: a young person's guide

    The mission of FPA is to help establish a society in which everyone has positive, informed and non-judgemental attitudes to sex and relationships; where everyone can make informed ...

    ...

    Pregnancy | Sex and health | Explore | ChildLine

    How can you get pregnant? If a young woman and young man have sex, or are sexually intimate with each other, without using contraception, there is a risk of the young woman becoming ...

    ...

    Talking to your child about sex and teenage pregnancy ...

    Young people who can talk about sex with their parents tend to delay having sex and are more likely ... to talk to your teenager about a number of things to do with sex and pregnancy.

    ...

    Young London Matters - Teenage Pregnancy

    Young London Matters and Teenage Pregnancy. YLM's contribution to this issue supports the ... can be found in the Teenage Pregnancy area of the Resource Centre. Sex and Relationships ...

    ...

    Diva - Young, pregnant and clueless

    Young, pregnant and clueless ... She had sex with a 39-year-old man,who got her pregnant. She was referred to the Singapore Children’s ...

    ...

    How old is too young? Teen Pregnancy - The Pregnancy ...

    A young woman provides answers to questions about teen ... Music Video on Teen Sex, Pregnancy and Teens Choices A music video about the struggles of teenage pregnancy and ...

    ...