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Transitions
Volume 12, No. 3,
March 2001
This Transitions is
also available in [PDF] format.
Scientific & Medical
Institutions Support Comprehensive Sexuality Education
Out of concern for the growing abstinence-only-until-marriage
movement, major scientific and medical institutions have
reviewed the evidence and made statements in support of
comprehensive sexuality education, including access
to contraception and condoms.
"Current research findings do not support the position
that the abstinence-only approach to sexuality education
is effective in delaying the onset of intercourse." 1
The American Medical Association, 1999
"…It is a matter of grave concern that there
is such a large incentive to adopt unproven abstinence-only
approaches." "…the effective programs identified
to date provide information about safer sex, condoms, and
contraceptives, in addition to encouraging abstinence." 2
Office
of National AIDS Policy, September 2000
"…Investing hundreds of millions of dollars
of federal and state funds over five years in abstinence-only
programs with no evidence of effectiveness constitutes
poor fiscal and public health policy…. Congress,
as well as other federal, state and local policy makers,
[should] eliminate requirements that public funds be used
for abstinence-only education." 3
The
Institute of Medicine, October 2000
"Proponents of abstinence-only policies argue that
providing information about contraception or providing
condoms to adolescents sends a mixed message to youth and
may promote sexual activity." However, "expert
panels that have studied this issue, have concluded that
comprehensive sex and HIV/AIDS education programs and condom
availability programs can be effective in reducing high-risk
sexual behaviors among adolescents. In addition, these
reviews and expert panels conclude that school-based sex
education and condom availability programs do not increase
sexual activity among adolescents. 3
The
Institute of Medicine, October 2000
"…Two trends have contributed to the declines
in teenage birth and pregnancy rates. First, the long-term
increase in the proportion of teenaged women who were sexually
experienced leveled [off]… In addition, among sexually
experienced teenagers who used any method of contraception,
condom use increased substantially." 4
Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, 1997
"Although sexual abstinence is a desirable objective,
programs must include instruction
in safer sex behavior, including condom use. The effectiveness
of these programs is supported by strong scientific evidence." 5
The
National Institutes of Health, 1997
"All adolescents should be counseled about the correct
and consistent use of latex condoms to reduce risk of infection." 6
American
Academy of Pediatrics, January 2001
"Given the weight of scientific evidence demonstrating
the efficacy of safer-sex interventions and the absence
of clear and compelling data demonstrating a significant
and consistent treatment advantage for abstinence programs,
it is difficult to understand the logic behind the decision
to earmark funds specifically for abstinence programs.
Unfortunately, much of the public health policy debate
appears to have been ideologically motivated rather than
empirically driven. However, no matter how widespread,
politically viable, or popular a program may be, efficacy
in preventing and modifying behaviors associated with ST[D]/HIV
must remain the primary criterion by which programs are
changed." 7
Editorial:
Preventing Sexually Transmitted Infections among
Adolescents: A Clash of Ideology and Science. Journal
of the American Medical Association, May 1998
References:
- Council on
Scientific Affairs. Report of the Council on Scientific
Affairs. [Action of the AMA House of Delegates
1999 Interim Meeting, CSA Report 7-I-99]. Chicago,
IL: American
Medical Association, 1999.
- Office of
National AIDS Policy. Youth and HIV/AIDS 2000:
A New American Agenda. Washington, DC: The
White House, September 2000.
- Committee on
HIV Prevention Strategies in the United States, Institute
of Medicine. No Time to Lose: Getting More from
HIV Prevention. Washington, DC: The
Institute, October 2000.
- Centers for
Disease Control & Prevention. State-Specific Birth
Rates for Teenagers, United States, 1990-1996. Morbidity & Mortality
Weekly Report 1997; 46:838-842.
- National Institutes
of Health. Consensus Development Conference Statement.
Rockville, MD: The
Institutes, 1997.
- American Academy
of Pediatrics. Adolescents and human immunodeficiency
virus infection: the role of the pediatrician in prevention
and intervention. [Policy statement]. Pediatrics 2001;
107:188-190.
- DiClemente RJ.
Preventing sexually transmitted infections among adolescents:
a clash of ideology and science. [Editorials] JAMA May
20, 1998; 279:1574-1575.
Transitions (ISSN
1097-1254) © 2001, is a quarterly publication of Advocates for Youth—Helping
young people make safe and responsible decisions about
sex. For permission
to reprint, contact Transitions' editor at 202.419.3420.
Editor: Sue Alford
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