Study Proves Abstinence Education Works In Virginia

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 15 Nov 2007 - 12:00 PST

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The National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA) is in strong opposition to Virginia Governor Tim Kaine's decision to reject Title V Funding for abstinence education. Citing the desire to fund programs that are "evidence-based", Governor Kaine has pulled matching-federal grants for programs shown by studies to delay the onset of sexual behavior in Virginia teens by nearly 50-percent.

The Institute for Research and Evaluation studied the Virginia Department of Health's Virginia Abstinence Education Initiative (VAEI), tracking the behavior of seventh-graders in five different Virginia schools. According to an article that will be published in the January/February 2008 issue of the American Journal of Health Behavior, the study concluded that those students receiving abstinence education were about one-half (45.7%) as likely to initiate sexual activity as students who did not receive abstinence education.

"Narrow special interest groups have lobbied to eliminate abstinence programs across the country by misrepresenting the abstinence approach and its effectiveness," said Valerie Huber, Executive Director, NAEA. "It is very unfortunate when elected leaders make decisions based on rhetoric rather than reality."

"We hope Governor Kaine will consider this encouraging report, which is yet another confirmation that when young people are provided abstinence education, they abstain! Abstinence education provides youth information about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and contraception within the context of a strong abstinence message, but also provides teens with the skills to set goals, set boundaries, and build strong relationships," said Huber.

"Federal funding for abstinence programs has significantly contributed to the nationwide decline in teen pregnancies and the increase in the percentage of teens that are waiting to have sex in Virginia, and across the United States," said Huber. "Governor Kaine needs to reconsider his position for the sake of Virginia's teens. It is important to make decisions based on the full body of research, and if he is using "evidence", the Governor has clearly made a mistake."

About NAEA

The National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA) is comprised of leading abstinence educators and supporters who represent 1.5 million children across the U.S.

http://www.abstinenceassociation.org