'No Easy Answers' To Questions About Sex Education, Christian Science Monitor Editorial Says

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Women's Health / Gynecology;  Pregnancy / Obstetrics
Article Date: 21 Mar 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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After the release of a government report this week showing a rise in the teen birth rate, "ways to curb teen pregnancy have once again become a topic for debate," a Christian Science Monitor editorial states, adding that teen births are "[o]ne of the best signals for what is worst in American society." The editorial continues, "With Democrats now in charge in Washington, the long, bitter struggle between those pushing only sexual-abstinence programs and those emphasizing contraceptive education will likely lean toward the latter." It notes that President Obama and Congress recently cut federal funding for abstinence-only programs "and plan to do more." According to the editorial, the "intensity" of the fight surrounding sex education "implies there are easy answers to this national challenge." However, "there are no easy answers," because "[e]ven the most effective programs only reduce risky sexual behavior among teens by one-third," the editorial says. It adds that "teens may not take any type of sex education seriously if adults fight over it."

The editorial notes the comments of specialist Douglas Kirby, who in a report on sex education programs for the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy wrote that "'[c]ommunities need to send clear, consistent messages about appropriate sexual behavior'" and that "'it is important that organizations avoid sending conflicting messages to young people.'" The editorial continues, "What is needed is that all those concerned unite more in dealing with the many factors causing teen pregnancy," including poverty, drugs, domestic abuse and "fatherless homes." It adds that "one reason to unite" is that the "yearly cost in public services for a teen mother is about $4,080."

In addition, there are the issues of the "sexualized culture" of America and the influence of the "role model" teen girls see in "single women having or adopting babies," according to the editorial, which cites the report's finding that four in 10 births in 2007 were to unmarried women. The editorial says that with "each individual teen, parents need to find better ways to talk about sex and make better efforts to instill high values," adding that "[g]irls sometimes see a strategic benefit to early motherhood." The editorial concludes, "More than sex education, it is an unconditional love for each teen, even with a pregnancy, that will help them gain more control and maturity -- and help America reverse this trend" (Christian Science Monitor, 3/19).

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