What is abstinence education?
Abstinence education is a form of sex education which emphasizes abstinence from sex. Abstinence education places its focus on promoting sexual abstinence (refraining from all sexual activity), usually until marriage. Abstinence-based programs generally exclude other types of sexual education, including discussion of birth control and safer sex.
What is the viewpoint of abstinence education? What are the objectives of abstinence education?
Many proponents of abstinence education focus on morality and religion, arguing that abstinence-only education teaches young people that sex is only morally right when it takes place within the bounds of marriage. Abstinence education organizations often place emphasis on ideals such as “sexual purity” and the “moral satisfaction” achieved by withholding from sexual relations until marriage. Proponents of this view often often quote passages from the Bible to support their standpoint (Wonderful Days, 1999).
Although there are differences between the various abstinence education programs, they all share the fundamental purpose of teaching children and youth to abstain from sexual activity, usually until marriage. The emphasis of many of these programs tends to be on the “social, psychological and health gains to be realized by abstaining from sexual activity” (Avert, 2010).
Abstinence education programs generally focus on particular teaching objectives, including teaching children and youth that abstaining from sexual activity is the only guaranteed way that they can avoid pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and other health problems. Children are generally taught that sexual activity should only take place in monogamous married relationships and that sexual activity outside of marriage is likely to lead to harmful consequences – both physical and psychological.
Is abstinence education effective?
Despite mixed opinions regarding the effectiveness of abstinence education programs, research has shown that abstinence education programs are less effective than comprehensive education programs at preventing teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Although some research has indicated that particular abstinence programs may be somewhat effective, further investigation has found that these programs are generally only effective for a short period of time and amongst particular groups of students, such as those who hold strong religious beliefs and values regarding sex before marriage (Avert, 2010).
Advocates for Youth. (2006). Effective Sex Education. Retrieved July 7, 2010 from http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/
Avert. (2010). Abstinence and sex education. Retrieved July 5, 2010, from http://www.avert.org/abstinence.htm
Norman, Roger M. (1999). Wonderful Days: Who, why, what, where and how? Retrieved July 5, 2010 from http://www.days.org/abstinence2.html
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