‘Tragic Outcomes’ Of Teen Pregnancies Shows Abstinence-Only Programs ‘Not Working,’ Opinion Piece Says
Posted on April 12, 2008
Filed Under sexual life
The “tragic outcomes” of two recent pregnancies among Texas teenagers shows that abstinence-only sex education programs are “not working,” Peter Durkin, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Houston and Southeast Texas, writes in a Houston Chronicle opinion piece. Durkin adds that the “most concern[ing]” questions regarding the incidents are whether the pregnant girls’ male partners were involved and how the situation can be prevented.
According to Durkin, the teen pregnancy rate in Texas has “remained relatively constant” during the past decade despite the more than $1.5 billion the federal government has spent on abstinence-only education in public schools. “Shouldn’t a billion dollars have an impact” on the teen pregnancy rate? Durkin asks, adding that the “fact is the programs aren’t making a difference in teens’ lives, and we continue to waste taxpayer dollars on ineffective programs.”
Teens across the U.S. are receiving “value-laden” sex education that “ignores both teen biology and the reality of today’s teen life and simply tells teens” just don’t have sex, according to Durkin. Adults “need to do something to help teens,” Durkin writes, adding that teens need “support and guidance on how to handle the tough situations they deal with everyday.” Adults can discuss abstinence with teens but “must also give them information to avoid risky situations” by “teaching them medically accurate sex education and giving them information about contraception and how to use it consistently and effectively, not just failure rates,” Durkin says.
Sex education should begin “at home with parents, should be supported by faith communities and should continue in schools,” Durkin writes, adding that parents should “demand that schools provide accurate information, not ideological instruction.” He concludes that it is “time we start dealing with the real world instead of our ideal world and try our best to prevent” negative outcomes to teen pregnancies “from happening again” (Durkin, Houston Chronicle, 4/7).
Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women’s Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women’s Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.
© 2007 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.
Tags: abstinence only education, abstinence only sex education, accurate sex, durkin, failure rates, faith communities, houston chronicle, ineffective programs, ing questions, male partners, negative outcomes, planned parenthood, pregnant girls, risky situations, sex education programs, southeast texas, support and guidance, teen pregnancies, teen pregnancy rate, tragic outcomes
Comments
Leave a Reply
Dental
- New teeth whitening techniques
- Natural Cure of Toothache
- Why the Teeth are not White
- Natural Cure of Toothache
- Having teeth whitening could earn you a fortune
- Entrust your dental care to a competent dentist New York
- Entrust your dental care to a competent dentist New York
Diabetes
- Types of Chronic Complications-Diabetes
- diabetic cooking
- Diabetes Drug Avandia Associated with Increased Risk of Osteoporosis
- Anti-Aging and High Blood Pressure
- Diabetes Type 1 - Insulin Cell Transplant Therapy To Be Rolled Out Across The UK
- Peripheral Vascular Disease: Selecting The Right Shoes-Diabetes
- What Is the Connection Between Glucose and Diabetes?
Men's Issues
- Increase your sperm count, use volume plus!
- Standard Days Method Of Contraception Reaches Women With Unmet Needs
- Course To Cure Stuttering
- Penile Yeast Infections, The Last Thing a Man Wants
- Planned Parenthood Of Idaho Apologizes After Employee Agrees To Accept Racially Motivated Donation
- Christian Science Monitor Examines Efforts To End Genital Cutting In Kenya
- Viagra saves life of a toddler
ADHD
- Home Remedies To Treat Acidity
- Homeopathic Remedies Alleviate Hyperactivity
- A New Affordable Therapy for ADD/ADHD
- ADHD & Teen Drivers
- Alternative Treatment for Asthma
- Are Side Effects of ADHD Drugs Worse Than ADHD Symptoms?
- Living and Coping with ADD
Hair Loss and Skin Care
- Rogaine Hair Loss Products Review
- Is Chemo Making You Sick? You Don't Have To Suffer Posted By : alan
- Overcome ADD/ADHD with Hypnosis Posted By : Steve Jones
- Alopecia- hair loss
- Want To Get Rid Of Dandruff Beautiful Hair
- Hair Loss Vitamins for Hair Loss
- How to Remove Unwanted Hair
Women's Issues
- Vaginal Infection Reality Show
- The 4 Steps to Choosing the Right Breast Pump
- Bacterial Vaginosis Intolerable Crisis
- Her Empty Next Syndrome
- Discover A Proven Way To Win Back The Love Of Your Life
- Breast Enhancement in Todays Culture.
- AIDS Mushrooms through Gender-based Violence and Discrimination
Stress
- Symptoms of Stress Warning Signs of Stress
- Hypertension Symptoms, Complications of Hypertension
- Stress Hypnotherapy
- Symptoms of Stress Warning Signs of Stress
- Tips For Combating Stress
- Hypertension Symptoms, Complications of this Silent Killer
- 5 Tips to Win Over Stress
Depression
- Are you having problems with Anxiety, Depression, Post Stress Traumatic Disorder, Speaking in Public
- Dark Chocolate Gifts Idea That Boosts the Mood and More
- Healthy Chocolate Can Also Be a Happy Chocolate
- Tell you about depression Symptoms
- Warning Signs of Adolescent Depression
- Depression Causes And Symptoms
- How serious is the problem?
Meditation
- Meditation for Beginners Reduce Stress with Meditation
- Panic or anxiety ruling your life?
- Unlock the Secrets of Mediatation
- Meditation Advantages
- The Holosync Solution. Does It Even Work?
- Modern Meditation: Changes Lives
- Self Meditation Know about the different Techniques
Yoga
- How to Burn Fat with Exercises and Yoga
- Dhyana Meditation for Fitness
- Some Basics About Hatha Yoga
- An Overview of Yoga
- Beginner Yoga Class Checklist
- Yoga Improves Your Mental and Physical Health
- Understanding Yoga Techniques
sexual life
- Study Finds Mass Media Campaigns Alone Can Effectively Reduce High-Risk Sexual Behavior Among Impulsive, Sensation Seeking Young Adults
- Blacks Cannot 'Afford To Ignore' Disparities In STI Rates, Opinion Piece Says
- Prenatal Syphilis Screening Rates: Are They Being Accurately Reported?
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases Report Updated, UK
- 'National Silence' On Sexual Behavior, Race, Poverty Contributes To High Rates Of HIV, Other STIs, Opinion Piece Says
- Calif. Board Of Education Adopts Comprehensive Sex Education Curriculum
- More Awareness Needed To Address Black Girls' Higher STI Rates, Opinion Piece Says
Weight Loss
- How helpful are Surgical Weight Loss Methods
- The Weight Loss Program That Worked For Me
- Weight Loss Exercises: How to Achieve Success
- Overcoming Emotional Eating to Lose Weight
- Weight Loss Drug, Clenbuterol Surfacing with Controversy
- Amen for this weight loss plan
- Weight Loss The Truth about Herbal Weight Loss