Associations Between Sexual and Reproductive Health Communication and Health Service Use Among U.S. Adolescent Women

According to this study, teens who received information only about abstinence were less likely than others to have sought out the services that are necessary to improving their sexual and reproductive health outcomes. Even among sexually experienced teens, the data suggest that those who received abstinence-only information from parents were less likely than others to use sexual and reproductive health services.  The authors suggest that further investigation is needed to determine whether comprehensive sexual and reproductive health communication facilitates teens’ use of sexual and reproductive health care services, and whether abstinence-only information deters teens’ use of these services.

This article was taken from Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, Volume 44, Number 1, March 2012

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Science and Success, Second Edition: Sex Education and Other Programs that Work to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, HIV & Sexually Transmitted Infections

Twenty-six effective programs designed to reduce teen pregnancy and STI’s that meet rigorous criteria are described by Advocates for Youth.

This article was taken from Advocates for Youth. Washington, DC. 2008

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Converging Evidence Leaves Policy Behind: Sex Education in the United States

School-based sex education has the potential to prevent sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies and to promote healthy sexuality. Yet local, state, and national sex education policies in the United States comprise a bewildering patchwork of mandates, funding restrictions, omissions, and compromises, often at odds from one level to the next. As a result, the sex education received by most students is fragmented, incomplete, and frequently based on ineffective approaches and curricula.

This article was taken from Constantine, N. A. (2008). Converging evidence leaves policy behind: Sex education in the United States. [editorial]. Journal of Adolescent Health, 42, 324-326.

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States are Backing Away from Abstinence-Only Programs and are Looking for Alternatives

Health and government officials are working to end abstinence-only programs and seeking to expand other types of sexual education initiatives in the face of mounting evidence that the programs do not work.

This article was taken from The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools

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Sex Education Linked to Abstinence, Later Initiation of First Sex

Adolescents who receive sex education prior to the initiation of sexual activity are more likely to abstain from sex and postpone the initiation of sexual activity. In addition, males were more likely to use contraception the first time they had sex in response to sex education, according to an article published in the January 2008 issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health.

This article was taken from Journal of Adolescent Health

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The Evaluation of Abstinence Education Programs Funded Under Title V Section 510

Published by Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., this report notes that most of the programs studied offer much more than “just say no.” In addition to delivering a clear and consistent message of abstinence until marriage, programs focus on building self-esteem, developing values, formulating goals, making decisions, avoiding risky behavior, maximizing communication, strengthening relationships, and other issues. Mathematica Policy Research Inc., a non-partisan group, concluded the programs have “no measurable impact on initiation rates, ages of first intercourse, or numbers of partners, no impact on pregnancies, births or STDs”.

This article was taken from Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.

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Article Documents Widespread Parental Support for Comprehensive Sex Education

A study from the Center for Research on Adolescent Health and Development published in Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health found that 89% of California parents surveyed preferred comprehensive sex education versus abstinence-only education. Support was high across all regions of the state and all demographic subgroups suggesting that such support may be generalizable to communities and school districts both in California and around the country.

This article was taken from Public Health Institute

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