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quote:
By Vanessa Heaney
BBC News, Washington

The US government warned not to draw sweeping conclusions
US students attending sexual abstinence classes are no more likely to abstain from sex than those who do not, according to a new study. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6554743.stm

Congress ordered the study (text http://oversight.house.gov/documents/20041201102153-50247.pdf this is a large pdf file.)

The study found errors in facts presented. Special Programs of Regional and National Significance, (SPRANS) is the largest and fastest growing source of abstinence-only education. In 2005 they had a 104 million dollars.
Eleven of the thirteen curricula most commonly used in SPRANS programs contain major errors and distortions of public health information. Many of the organizations that receive federal funds and use SPRANS are faith based organizations. The report says, "Although the curricula purport to provide scientifically accurate information about contraceptive failure rates, many exaggerate these failure rates, providing affirmatively false or misleading information that misstates the effectiveness of various contraceptive methods in preventing disease transmission or pregnancy." In other words they deliberately lie about contraception and contraceptives.

The study also found that the programs were not any more effective in preventing premarital sex than NO PROGRAM AT ALL.
"The essence of all religions is one. Only their approaches are different." ~Mahatma Gandhi
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As a physician who deals with the harsh realities of pregnant teenagers and STD's I have two questions for everyone: 1. Do teenagers who practice abstinence ever get pregnant? and 2. Do teenagers who practice abstinence ever get a sexually transmitted disease? I hate to tell everyone this, but one thing I have learned after years of looking at studies is that studies are not all they are cracked up to be. I hate to say this as a physician, but you can make a study say whatever you want it to say. And this barrage of medical studies you see today is getting to the point of being ridiculous. I can't count the times I've read a study that reports one finding and then two years later a study reports the exact opposite finding. We really need a huge dose of common sense in this country, and it could start by asking a few, good basic questions like the ones I have asked above. And please don't give me the crap that all kids are gonna have sex whether we tell them to or not. You show a kid what tertiary syphillis can do to him or her and you will have their attention. What they need to see are adults with the backbone to stand up for what is right, and adults with the backbone to teach them the truth about the wonderful gift of sex.
Another post on this subject in the news section.
I believe what we need is sex education in schools that is truthful. In fact, I believe all education should be based on truth and not idealism.
FO6 , don't take this post that I am against abstinance for young people. Iin fact, abstinance should be encouraged. It is just that I believe we must accept reality, and deal with it thru truth, not scare tactics and idealistic lies.
I suspect that children born out of wedlock have a much higher chance of living all their life in poverty.
quote:
Originally posted by father of 6:
As a physician who deals with the harsh realities of pregnant teenagers and STD's I have two questions for everyone: 1. Do teenagers who practice abstinence ever get pregnant? and 2. Do teenagers who practice abstinence ever get a sexually transmitted disease? I hate to tell everyone this, but one thing I have learned after years of looking at studies is that studies are not all they are cracked up to be. I hate to say this as a physician, but you can make a study say whatever you want it to say. And this barrage of medical studies you see today is getting to the point of being ridiculous. I can't count the times I've read a study that reports one finding and then two years later a study reports the exact opposite finding. We really need a huge dose of common sense in this country, and it could start by asking a few, good basic questions like the ones I have asked above. And please don't give me the crap that all kids are gonna have sex whether we tell them to or not. You show a kid what tertiary syphillis can do to him or her and you will have their attention. What they need to see are adults with the backbone to stand up for what is right, and adults with the backbone to teach them the truth about the wonderful gift of sex.
Doctor father of 6, well put. But wrong. Studies of rates of STD's are done to find the rate of STD's. If the study results in effective action to prevent them, the rate goes down. If the action taken is ineffective the rate does not.
In some regions the action taken has been effective, and in other regions the action taken has been ineffective.
Studies of the regions where abstinence is the only measure taught the rates of pregnancy and STD's is higher than in regions where prophylactic measures are taught alongside urging abstinence.
The data from 2001 shows a birth rate, in the 15 to 19 year old population of women in New Jersey at 29.9 per thousand. In Arizona at 63.5 and in Alabama at 57.8. The rate nationally was 45.8.
The pregnancy rate in New Jersey Teenagers is far below the national average, less than half the rate in Arizona, and about half the rate in Alabama.
I live in Arizona, and I want to do whatever it is that New Jersey is doing to reduce teen pregnancy.
I can look for excuses, for example, the birth rate for Hispanic girls nationwide was 76.9 for girls who were not Hispanic, White or Black, 37.9, White girls, 30.0 and African American (reported as Black) 75.6 So, I can make an excuse for Arizona, This state has a High percentage of Hispanic Girls, and for Alabama on the basis of the percentage of Black Girls. But that does not solve the problem.
The data is in this government document http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr51/nvsr51_02.pdf
So, what exactly is New Jersey doing? Well they have a comprehensive school program, the outline is here: http://www.state.nj.us/health/aids/teenpep.htm
It is a comprehensive Health Education program. This section describes the Standards for teaching Human relationships and sexuality grade by grade. http://www.state.nj.us/education/cccs/s2_chpe.htm#24
Now, since that program exists in a state with a teen pregnancy rate well below the national average, and with a diverse population, I would recommend adopting their curriculum in both Arizona and Alabama. It includes two elements that I think are important. It enables peer to peer teaching, and in includes information On STD's, and prevention and it includes birth control methods. It also includes a strong emphasis on abstinence.
quote:
Originally posted by MarianLibrarian:
How likely is it that a teenager is going to contract tertiary syphilis? Unless they're having sex with prostitutes or something.


It can take as long as twenty years for a person to develop the symptoms of tertiary syphilis, AKA general paresis. You'd have to have some pretty precocious and unlucky teens.
I think that dr fatherof 6 brought up the subject of STD's. But the objective of the study was not to teach those dangers but to find an effective way to teach children now, how to avioid them in the future. I believe the information in this article is reliable regarding the progress of Syphillis: http://www.sexhealth.org/std/syphillis.shtml I am no expert on STD's but the Sexual Health Info Center is.

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