How effective is an abstinence-only curriculum?
A new review of U.S. sexuality education policies and programs reaffirms the harms of abstinence-only-until-marriage (AOUM) programs and the importance of investing in comprehensive sexuality education. In theory, abstinence is 100% effective at preventing pregnancy and STIs.
Do states with abstinence-only education have higher pregnancy rates?
Based on a national analysis of all available state data, our results clearly show that abstinence-only education does not reduce and likely increases teen pregnancy rates.
Is abstinence-only education federally funded?
There are two federal funding streams dedicated to abstinence-only programs: the Title V Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) grant program, which is funded for several years at a time, and the discretionary SRAE grant program, which receives funding through annual spending bills.
Which states teach abstinence-only education?
These states are Mississippi, Texas, Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana. The following states stress that only abstinence is taught in school: Arizona. Arkansas.
Which states teach abstinence only education?
Does Utah teach abstinence only?
Currently, Utah law mandates that abstinence-based sexual education be promoted as the most effective way to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases in health classes across the state. Critics have long argued that focusing on refusal places an unnecessary burden on the victim.
Should schools teach abstinence only education?
Proponents of abstinence education argue that teaching abstinence to youth will delay teens’ first sexual encounter and will reduce the number of partners they have, leading to a reduction in rates of teen pregnancy and STIs.
How much money has the US government spent on abstinence-only education?
It is estimated that the federal government has spent nearly $2 billion in abstinence-only funding since the mid-1990s.
Is West Virginia an abstinence-only state?
West Virginia is one of 35 states that receives federal funds through Department of Health grants that started in the 1980s to promote abstinence-only sex education. Like West Virginia, Texas is slowly making an effort to change its approach to sex ed in the classroom.
Does Utah teach abstinence-only?
What are the different types of abstinence education programs?
Until 2010, there were three major federal programs dedicated to abstinence education: the Adolescent Family Life Act (AFLA), the Community-Based Abstinence Education program (CBAE), and the Title V Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage program (AOUM).
Is the federal government funding abstinence education programs?
Although decisions regarding if and how sex education is taught are ultimately left to individual states and school districts, abstinence-only funding offered by the federal government since the early 1980s’ has served as a strong incentive to adopt this type of programming.
How many states have abstinence-only education laws?
Data on abstinence education were retrieved from the Education Commission of the States [16]. Of the 50 U.S. states, only 38 states had sex education laws (as of 2007; Table 2).
How much money has been spent on abstinence programs?
Since 1982, the federal government has spent over $2 billion on abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. These programs must adhere to a strict eight-point definition, with the “exclusive purpose (of) teaching the social, psychological, and health gains to be realized by abstaining from sexual activity.”.