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raveneye · 01-24-2005, 07:15 AM

My 4-year-old daughter knows a lot about babies, having watched her pet mouse mama and papa have three litters. She knows that "cuddling" first happens, then the mama becomes pregnant.

Since both mom and dad are professional biologists, we don't try to shield her from very much.

It's nice to see that research has shown that the best sex education for girls (defined in terms of avoiding unwanted pregnancy and diseases) is exactly that: education, not indoctrination. (see the article appended below)

I doubt that the Bush administration is going to pay any attention to the research, but at least it is being publicized.

Data show abstinence ed failing

Marina Pisano
San Antonio Express-News

The Bush administration has invested heavily in abstinence-only sex education and it is officially supported in Texas schools, but new research may bolster critics who say those programs are not effective in delaying teens' sexual activity and reducing unintended pregnancies.

Teen sex research

During a news briefing Tuesday presented by the Alan Guttmacher Institute, researchers and a public policy expert said research shows that comprehensive sexuality education — abstinence-plus instead of abstinence-only — is best.

The institute is affiliated with Planned Parenthood, which distributes contraception.

The speakers said comprehensive education is vitally needed for public health and the prevention of teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

Researcher Peter Bearman, director of Columbia University's Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy, said his sampling of 4,877 sexually active females ages 15 to 19 revealed teen attitudes are important in reducing the risk of pregnancy.

Bearman said programs that emphasize abstinence are marked by negativity about pregnancy and contraceptives.

"But our research shows that sexually active females with a negative attitude toward pregnancy are just as likely to become pregnant as those with a positive attitude toward pregnancy. But both groups are much less likely to become pregnant if they have a positive attitude toward contraception."

In addition to the results, which are part of a larger national study sample, Bearman cited data drawn from 20,000 adolescents and young adults who have been followed since 1995. That ongoing research showed that virginity pledges — no sex before marriage — work only for a few. He found that more than 88 percent of adolescents taking virginity pledges break them before marriage.

He said pledges delayed first sex an average of about 18 months for adolescents ages 14 to 16. Pledging teens are less likely to use contraceptives at first sex, so he found their gains in preventing pregnancy are "washed out."

While teens taking pledges may have fewer sex partners, they have the same rates of sexually transmitted diseases.

"There's no protection from pledging," he said.

Bearman's study, co-authored with Hannah Brückner of Yale University, was published Tuesday in Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health.

01-24-2005, 07:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
raveneye Born Against	Data show abstinence ed failing My 4-year-old daughter knows a lot about babies, having watched her pet mouse mama and papa have three litters. She knows that "cuddling" first happens, then the mama becomes pregnant. Since both mom and dad are professional biologists, we don't try to shield her from very much. It's nice to see that research has shown that the best sex education for girls (defined in terms of avoiding unwanted pregnancy and diseases) is exactly that: education, not indoctrination. (see the article appended below) I doubt that the Bush administration is going to pay any attention to the research, but at least it is being publicized. Data show abstinence ed failing Marina Pisano San Antonio Express-News The Bush administration has invested heavily in abstinence-only sex education and it is officially supported in Texas schools, but new research may bolster critics who say those programs are not effective in delaying teens' sexual activity and reducing unintended pregnancies. Teen sex research During a news briefing Tuesday presented by the Alan Guttmacher Institute, researchers and a public policy expert said research shows that comprehensive sexuality education — abstinence-plus instead of abstinence-only — is best. The institute is affiliated with Planned Parenthood, which distributes contraception. The speakers said comprehensive education is vitally needed for public health and the prevention of teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Researcher Peter Bearman, director of Columbia University's Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy, said his sampling of 4,877 sexually active females ages 15 to 19 revealed teen attitudes are important in reducing the risk of pregnancy. Bearman said programs that emphasize abstinence are marked by negativity about pregnancy and contraceptives. "But our research shows that sexually active females with a negative attitude toward pregnancy are just as likely to become pregnant as those with a positive attitude toward pregnancy. But both groups are much less likely to become pregnant if they have a positive attitude toward contraception." In addition to the results, which are part of a larger national study sample, Bearman cited data drawn from 20,000 adolescents and young adults who have been followed since 1995. That ongoing research showed that virginity pledges — no sex before marriage — work only for a few. He found that more than 88 percent of adolescents taking virginity pledges break them before marriage. He said pledges delayed first sex an average of about 18 months for adolescents ages 14 to 16. Pledging teens are less likely to use contraceptives at first sex, so he found their gains in preventing pregnancy are "washed out." While teens taking pledges may have fewer sex partners, they have the same rates of sexually transmitted diseases. "There's no protection from pledging," he said. Bearman's study, co-authored with Hannah Brückner of Yale University, was published Tuesday in Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health.