Opinion Pieces Discuss Whether Abstinence-Only Is Practical Message For Teens

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Pregnancy / Obstetrics;  Sexual Health / STDs
Article Date: 14 May 2009 - 3:00 PDT

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Two opinion pieces recently examined the effectiveness of abstinence-only sex education. Summaries appear below.

~ Diane Mufson, Huntington Herald-Dispatch: The idea that "sexual abstinence is the only way to handle sexuality in teenagers is ... not realistic," Herald-Dispatch editorial contributor Mufson writes in an opinion piece. Mufson points to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's (R) daughter, Bristol Palin, who gave birth last year after an unintended pregnancy. "This young woman was raised in an intact, educated and supportive home whose family values clearly say abstinence is the right way to deal with sex prior to marriage," Mufson writes. She asks, "If abstinence did not work for Bristol, how do we expect it to work for those living in less informed and caring environments?" Mufson also cites a recent New York Times article reporting that in North Carolina, where schools teach abstinence-only curricula, the teen pregnancy rate is the ninth highest rate in the nation and has been rising since 2003. "If a state where abstinence-only education is required has an increased number of adolescent pregnancies, it would be a good indication that the abstinence-only program is not achieving its goals," she says. "Adolescents need factual sex education in order to make good choices about sexuality," Mufson writes, adding, "Abstinence, while being a good idea, may work for some young people some of the time. Obviously, it does not work for all teens all of the time" (Mufson, Huntington Herald-Dispatch, 5/12).

~ Cheryl Wetzstein, Washington Times: In "all candor, it's likely that abstinence education as we've known it is kaput," Timescolumnist Wetzstein writes, noting that President Obama in his 2010 budget proposal "defunds two major abstinence-only education programs and replaces them with teen pregnancy prevention programs." In addition, many of abstinence-only education's "Republican champions have retired or moved to other issues, and any Democrat who stands up for abstinence will undoubtedly face withering attack," Wetzstein says. She continues, "My two-cents proposal? Make 'abstinence until 20' the public health message for unmarried youth," which "would send the message that sex is for adults." According to Wetzstein, abstaining from sex until age 20 would help address teen pregnancy rates and the spread of sexually transmitted infections. "Compared to teens, a 20-year-old virgin is more likely to choose his or her first sexual partner with care" and "insist on contraception and use it more effectively," Wetzstein says. She continues, "I am guessing this abstinence-until-20 idea won't please any advocates in this polarized debate, but I think it lines up with what mainstream America wants." She concludes, "'Sex is for adults' is a sound social message that got discarded a few decades ago. I think it's time to bring it back" (Wetzstein, Washington Times, 5/12).

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