This
edition of Skills for Educators assists health educators in selecting
the abstinence education approach that is most effective and appropriate
for the youth they work with.
Abstinence Education:
What Are My Options?
Abstinence
Education can mean many things. Some of the current terminology being
used in abstinence education includes: abstinence-only education, abstinence-based
education, abstinence for teens, abstinence-until-marriage. Each of these
terms may mean something different, depending on who is describing the
program or approach.
Given all
these different definitions, how does a local health or family life educator
decide what is appropriate for their youth and setting? The following
four steps may help health educators wade through all the rhetoric and
select the best abstinence program for their youth.
Step
#1: Clarify your definition of abstinence.
Step #2: Gather information about abstinence education.
Step #3: Select approach that best meets needs.
Step #4: Explore your own attitudes and beliefs.
This step is followed by an abstinence questionnaire
that can help health educators examine their attitudes and beliefs about
abstinence education.
Step #1: Clarify your
definition of abstinence.
A common
definition of abstinence is voluntarily refraining from vaginal, oral
or anal intercourse. However, some programs define it as refraining
from any genital contact, even if there isn't penetration. Abstinence
is a word that adults often use, but this word can be confusing to teens.
It may be helpful to involve youth in developing a definition that's
meaningful and relevant to them. This month's "Learning
Activity" suggests a process for involving youth in this way.
Step #2: Gather information
about abstinence education.
- Collect
data on the sexual risk behaviors of teens in your area. You might look
at statistics for your state or region on the National Campaign To Prevent
Teen Pregnancy's website at teenpregnancy.org.
- Explore
different program approaches. Some common approaches include:
- abstinence-based
— abstinence-based programs present abstinence as a valid option
for teens whether they have been sexually active or not. Without using
scare tactics, they also provide information about contraception skill
building and postponing sexual intercourse.
- abstinence-only
for teens — abstinence-only education for teens presents
abstinence as the only option for protection against unplanned pregnancy,
HIV and STIs. It assumes that teens should postpone sexual intercourse
until they are adults.
Abstinence-only education should be reviewed carefully to be sure
it does not:
- rely on fear or shame to discourage students from engaging in sexual
behavior, and
- omit critical information or provide misinformation.
- abstinence-until-marriage
— abstinence-until-marriage presents abstinence as the only option
for protection against unplanned pregnancy, HIV and STIs. It assumes
that teens should postpone sexual intercourse until they are married.
It does not discuss contraceptive options.
- Comprehensive
sexuality education takes a broader, more long-range approach.
It promotes educating adolescents throughout their entire school career
around a wide range of topics related to sexuality. It concentrates
on preparing youth for a healthy expression of their sexuality instead
of focusing only on negative consequences. Abstinence along with other
contraceptive options are discussed.
Comprehensive sexuality education will be discussed in more detail
in a future edition of ReCAPP.
No matter
which of the approaches you select, ReCAPP staff believe that educators
should teach about abstinence in an accurate, balanced way that supports
and encourages youth to choose abstinence without denigrating those
who do not.
- Review
critical factors for program effectiveness. A review of the research
on pregnancy HIV or STI prevention programs has identified ten characteristics
for programs' effectiveness. This evidence provides a framework for
developing programs to reduce sexual risk-taking behavior whether they
are abstinence-only or comprehensive sexuality.
When choosing an abstinence education program, educators can use the
characteristics as a guideline for determining potential program effectiveness.
These ten characteristics for program effectiveness can be found in
ReCAPP's "Evidence-Based
Programs" section.
Abstinence
educators also should know that to date, six studies of abstinence-only
programs have been published and that none has demonstrated effectiveness
in delaying the onset of sexual intercourse. (D. Kirby, et al. "School-Based
Programs to Reduce Sexual Risk Behaviors: A Review of Effectiveness,"
Public Health Reports, 109, no. 3 (May/June 1994, p. 25.)
Several comprehensive programs have demonstrated an impact on postponing
sexual activity including Reducing the Risk and Becoming a
Responsible Teen. See the fact sheets under ReCAPP's "Evidence-Based
Programs."
Step #3:
Select an approach that best meets the needs of youth and the setting or
community in which you're teaching.
To be
effective, abstinence education programs must take into consideration
the needs of the youth being taught. Educators are often in a good position
to know these needs because they work with teens on a day-to-day basis.
This exposure allows them to hear firsthand the issues their group of
teens are concerned with.
Educators
can also gather data about the risk level of youth in their area from
the sources cited above. Knowing the risk level of a specific group
of teens can help the educator decide which abstinence approach will
be most relevant for their teens. For example, if their youth are likely
to be in a high risk group, a comprehensive approach would be more appropriate
than an abstinence-only approach.
In addition
to meeting the needs of the youth, the educator should also be aware
of how a selected program fits within the sexuality education policies
and guidelines of their school/agency and state. For example, some states
have guidelines regarding what topics can be taught and may have requirements
regarding parent permission.
Also,
some states might be receiving abstinence-only education money from
the Welfare Reform Program. These monies may limit or define what type
of abstinence programs may be taught. See Topic
in Brief for more information about the Welfare Reform Program and/or
check with your state department of health or education for specific
guidelines in your area.
Step #4: Explore
your own attitudes and beliefs.
As stated
above, abstinence education is most effective if it is presented in
an accurate, balanced way. This may be difficult for educators if they
have strong feelings for OR against abstinence education. Unknowingly,
they may be communicating their feelings verbally or non-verbally to
youth.
Take
a few minutes to respond to the abstinence questionnaire below to explore
your attitudes about abstinence education.
|
Abstinence Questionnaire
1.
I believe that junior high and high school students should be sexually
abstinent.
Agree
_____ Disagree _____ Don't Know _____
2.
It is not appropriate to provide information about contraception
and condom use to teens.
Agree
_____ Disagree _____ Don't Know _____
3.
Abstinence until marriage is the best choice for teens.
Agree
_____ Disagree _____ Don't Know _____
4.
I believe teens are too immature to have sexual intercourse.
Agree
_____ Disagree _____ Don't Know _____
5.
Birth control should not be readily available to teens without parents'
consent.
Agree
_____ Disagree _____ Don't Know _____
6.
Teens should avoid petting or messing around because they will end
up having sex.
Agree
_____ Disagree _____ Don't Know _____
|
How Do You Score?
If you
have answered 3 or more questions "Agree," you are
probably a strong supporter of abstinence-only education. It
may be helpful to remember that abstinence-only messages exclude a lot
of youth including those who have been sexually active, those who may
be gay, lesbian or questioning youth, and those who may be sexually
abused. In
your teaching, you will want to be sure to communicate support for students
who choose to be sexually active.
If you
have answered 3 or more questions "Disagree," you may
question the validity of abstinence education. Your challenge will be
to present abstinence as an option when providing sexuality education.
It may be helpful to remember that abstinence is always an option whether
a teen has been sexually active or not.
If you
have answered 3 or more questions "Don't Know," you
need to gather more information about abstinence and comprehensive sexuality
education. Some useful resources include this website, the National
Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, Sexuality Information and Education
Council of the United States (SEICUS),
Focus On the Family, and Planned Parenthood
Federation of America (PPFA).
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