PHA-Exchange> Abstinence-only, do we have money to waste?

[Aviva]

MINNESOTA: STATE'S ABSTINENCE-ONLY SEX EDUCATION DOESN'T WORK ANY
BETTER, REPORT SAYS 

www.aegis.org
Star Tribune (01.04.04) - Monday, January 05, 2004 
Josephine Marcotty 

An independent study commissioned by the Minnesota Department of Health
(MDH) found the state's $5 million abstinence-only sex education
program is not working. At three schools with the ENABL (Education Now
and Babies Later) program, of 413 junior high students surveyed, the
rate of sexual activity increased from 5.8 percent to 12.4 percent in
2001-2002 - a pattern similar to that of kids statewide. The rate of
students reporting they would likely have sex before high school
graduation increased from 9.5 percent to 17 percent.
 

Critics of ENABL questioned why MDH waited six months after the
report's completion to post it, with little fanfare, on its Web site
last week. The 91-page report recommends including more information
about contraception in the program. Of 2,500 Minnesota parents
surveyed, only one-fifth wanted abstinence-only education and 77
percent wanted their kids to know about contraception. 
"We take it very seriously," said Carol Woolverton, assistant
commissioner of MDH. But it is too early to say whether the department
will find ways to reach sexually active kids with information about
contraceptives, she said. ENABL - paid for with state and, mostly,
federal money - would lose federal funding if it changes from
abstinence-only. 


The five-year-old ENABL program is coordinated by schools, local
organizations and parents. It primarily consists of a five- hour
curriculum including statistics, reasons why kids should wait until
they are adults or married to have sex, and suggestions on how to avoid
sex and risky situations where sex might occur. It also encourages them
to talk to their parents about sex. The program includes information
about condom failure rates but nothing on their efficacy for preventing
pregnancy and disease. 

The findings raise the question of whether sexually active kids are
getting the information they need to avoid pregnancy and STDs, said
Connie Schmitz, the Professional Evaluation Services consultant who
headed the study. However, Minnesota Family Council President Tom
Prichard said ENABL is not working because its abstinence message does
not go far enough: Kids should wait until marriage to have sex - not
just until adulthood - and should abstain from any physical or sexual
contact. 

On a happy note, researchers said that between 1998 and 2001, kids
surveyed showed a greater willingness to talk to their parents about
sex.