Five Years of Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Education: Assessing the Impact [PDF]

Name of Program: Arizona Abstinence-Only Education Program

Federal Funding Source: Section 510(b) of Title V of the Social Security Act (entitlement for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs established under "Welfare Reform" in 1996)

Funds Allocated: In federal fiscal year (FY) 2003, Arizona received $1,056,905 in federal Title V funding. Arizona allocated $893,000 of its state funds to the initiative in FY 2003, bringing the total allocation to the program to $1,949,905.2 Between 1998 and 2003, Arizona appropriated $12 million in state funds (from the Arizona Department of Economic Security Welfare Reform Block Grant) to support its abstinence-only-until-marriage program.[9] [p.1-5]

Program Reach/Program Components: By 2001, 17 contractors had funding for 18 local program sites in 12 Arizona counties. In 2002, the program was offered in 168 schools, nine after-school programs, and 10 community, three probation, and 43 detention and residential centers. In total, the Arizona program served over 123,000 people—mostly preteens and teens—during the five years studied in the evaluation.

Program components varied by site, but over the five years, 14 different curricula were used, including Sex Can Wait, Managing Pressures before Marriage, Choosing the Best Path, Choosing the Best Life, AC Green's Game Plan, AC Green's I've Got the Power, Choosing the Best Way, WAIT Training, Passion and Principles Abstinence-Only Program, FACTS, Healthy Relationships, and Girl Talk/Guy Talk, as well as blends of some of these curricula. Arizona also implemented a statewide media campaign.[9]

Target Population: Children in grades four through 12 and also adults; this document focuses only on results with school-based, after school, and community-based programs serving teens and preteens; the chart on page 5 reflects findings only with teens.

Timing of Program/Evaluation: The program was conducted from 1998 to 2003, and final evaluation results were published in June 2003.

Evaluation Design: Pre- and posttest surveys of program participants; two pretest surveys, administered to a delayed treatment group in year four; one-time follow-up survey of 737 select, year four participants, three to 13 months after their program participation; and supplemental data from the national Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Follow-up participants were ages 13 to 18 (average age 15.1).[9]

Findings: Posttest surveys, administered immediately after the intervention, showed statistically significant positive changes in all 10 short-term outcomes for teens, including health reasons to abstain, value reasons to abstain, attitudes about abstinence and premarital sex, norms about teen sexuality, intent to pursue abstinence, refusal skills, social information seeking, personal values exploration, and decision making abilities. Preteens' intentions to abstain were generally favorable at both pre- and posttest. Teens' attitudes toward birth control became more negative from pre- to posttest.[9]

Follow-up found statistically significant declines in teens' attitudes favoring abstinence, norms about teen sexuality, and social information seeking. Results showed that scores on intent to pursue abstinence declined significantly among participants, regardless of subsequent abstinence-only classes.[9]

Among abstinent youth at follow-up, the proportions reporting they were likely to become sexually active by a given time included:

• 47 percent within the next year;
• 55 percent before high school graduation;
• 57 percent before being in a serious relationship;
• 66 percent before marriage; and
• 80 percent by the age 20.[9]

The proportion of participants who had sex increased between posttest (14 percent) and follow-up (19 percent).[9]

Quotes from Authors of the Evaluation Study:

• Research literature suggests abstinence-only education works best for youth who have not engaged in sexual intercourse rather than
  as a remedial program for those who have become sexually active.[9] [p. 4-3]
• No significant change occurred over the years in the proportion of program participants reporting sexual experience at entry to the
  program.[9] [p. 2]
• Among those who had sex since the program, their post-program intentions to pursue abstinence were brought in line with their postprogram
  behavior; they indicated little to no intention of remaining abstinent.[9] [p. 4-12]
• The direction of change on attitudes toward birth control was toward a less favorable view at posttest. This might be explained by the
  program's focus on the failure rates of contraceptives as opposed to their availability, use and access.[9] [p. 4-8]

Source/Citation:
Hauser D. Five Years of Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Education: Assessing the Impact. Washington, DC: Advocates for Youth, 2004.