Not by abstinence alone

The following editorial appeared in the Seattle Times on

Monday, Feb. 23:

Here’s something to cheer: A new national study has found

teen-age pregnancy and abortion rates are continuing a decade-long

decline, thanks to better contraception and less sexual activity

among teens.

The same study showed Washington’s teen pregnancy rate

fell dramatically between 1988 and 2000, from 109 pregnancies per

1,000 teens to 75. During the same period, the state’s

abortion rate fell from 47 per 1,000 teens to 26.

Unfortunately, the great news is tainted by President

Bush’s recent call to double funding for abstinence-only

programs in schools.

The declining teen pregnancy rate should send a strong signal to

adults that young people are capable of making sensible decisions

about their sexuality when they are exposed to truthful

information.

The Alan Guttmacher Institute, which regularly conducts the teen

pregnancy study, determined the previous decline in teen

pregnancies was mostly due to increased condom use.

Telling teen-agers there is only one way to avoid pregnancy _ by

abstaining from sex _ ignores reality. Withholding information from

teen-agers also puts those who can’t stick to the

wait-until-marriage pledge at risk for unwanted pregnancy and

sexually transmitted disease. That’s a potentially deadly

gamble.

Despite contentions by critics of comprehensive sex education,

teaching young people about sex doesn’t encourage them to

have it. Our culture takes care of that part.

Federally funded abstinence-only programs encourage adults to

withhold important facts from students. No discussion of AIDS,

condom use or other birth-control methods is allowed. That’s

irresponsible and counterproductive, especially in light of the

encouraging decline in pregnancy and abortion rates.

Abstinence has an important role in classroom discussions of

sexuality and health. But it should never be a solo act.

Knight Ridder/
Tribune News Services

Related Posts:

1. ‘Abstinence only’ policies leave students uninformed
2. Let’s talk about sex….education
3. Let’s talk about sex
4. Georgie’s other war
5. Planned Parenthood of Idaho reaches out to Latino community