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‘Abstinence only’ puts
young people at risk

Imagine a driver's education course where teachers show students grisly photos of traffic accidents but never teach them how to actually drive, stop at red lights, use turn signals, buckle their seat belts -- but then put them behind the wheel. Now you have a pretty good idea of what abstinence-only sexuality education is like. Abstinence-only programs try to scare and shame the sex out of teens and adults, teaching only the negative consequences of sexuality without ever telling young people what they can do to stay safe and healthy. It's been repeatedly shown that abstinence-only programs are ineffective at actually reducing teen pregnancy or sexual activity among teenagers.

Rep. Henry Waxman's (D, Calif.) report on the content of these federally funded education programs reveals they aren't just wrong-headed, they're just plain wrong. The report found that more than 80 percent of abstinence-only curricula -- used by more than two-thirds of recipients -- contain false, misleading or distorted information about reproductive health.

The report found that many of these curricula contain false information about the effectiveness of contraceptives and the risks of abortion. Several of the curricula contain basic scientific errors and present religious views as fact.

In abstinence-only programs, students are erroneously told that condoms fail to protect against HIV, and that pregnancy occurs one out of every seven times that couples use a condom. One textbook states that touching another person's genitals "can result in pregnancy." Another suggests that five to 10 percent of women who have legal abortions will become sterile as a result. One curriculum refers to a 43-day-old fetus as "a thinking person." Another incorrectly lists exposure to sweat and tears as risk factors for HIV transmission.

Perhaps it's better to ask, what aren't students learning? Here's what abstinence-only programs don't teach: how to use a condom, and why; factual information about sexually transmitted infections and how to protect against them; the facts about human growth and development; responsible decision-making skills about relationships; and how to talk to a partner about contraception.

Abstinence-only curricula aren't just riddled with errors; they clearly have no positive effect on the behavior of teens. One recent study found that they may actually increase participants' risk. Researchers at Columbia University found that while virginity "pledge" programs did help some participants delay sex for six months, 88 percent still had premarital sex. The rates of sexually transmitted infections among those who pledged abstinence showed no difference from non-pledgers. However, those who pledged virginity were less likely to use contraception when they did have sex, and were less likely to seek testing and treatment when they had an STI.

Despite no proof of their effectiveness in reducing teen pregnancy or rates of STI, the federal government will squander $168 million for these programs in fiscal year 2005, while programs that work go unfunded. Catholic Charities in Hawaii received more than $750,000 to conduct abstinence-only education programs in the state. This is three times the amount that the entire state Department of Health spends annually for medically accurate, comprehensive education programs!

Planned Parenthood of Hawaii introduced legislation last session that would require any organization receiving state funds to teach sex education must ensure that the information was medically accurate. Sen. Norman Sakamoto, Chairman of the Education Committee, refused to schedule this bill for a hearing.

Teen pregnancy rates are declining. Providing teens with accurate, age-based information and access to contraception allows and empowers responsible decision making and is contributing to that decline.

Proponents of abstinence-only education believe that knowledge can be dangerous. Ignorance, however, can be fatal. When our young people are at risk of HIV infection and STIs, it is unconscionable to deprive them of information that can save their lives. If we truly care about a better future for our children, we need to invest in sex education that is balanced, responsible and medically accurate.

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