Sexuality Education

Evaluation/Research

Emerging Answers: Research Findings on Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy (2001) by Douglas Kirby, Ph.D., offers practitioners and policymakers the latest information on what programs work to prevent teen pregnancy. Dr. Doug Kirby reviews research on a wide range of programs, including curriculum-based sexuality and abstinence education for teens and pre-teens, sex education for parents, contraceptive and family planning clinics and programs, early childhood programs, youth development and service learning programs, and community-based, multiple-component initiatives.

Emerging Answers says that the jury is still out about the effectiveness of abstinence-only programs. That is, current evidence about the success of these programs is inconclusive. This is due, in part, to the very limited number of high-quality evaluations of abstinence-only programs available and because the few studies that have been completed do not reflect the great diversity of abstinence-only programs currently offered. However, the early evidence about abstinence-only programs is not encouraging. Fortunately there is currently a high-quality, federally-funded evaluation of abstinence-only programs underway which should offer more definitive results soon.

Selected findings

The report cites eight programs as having strong evidence of success - five are sex education programs, two are service learning programs (i.e., community service combined with group discussions and reflection), and one is an intensive program that combines sex education, comprehensive health care, and activities such as tutoring.
The overwhelming weight of evidence reviewed in the report shows that sex education that discusses contraception does not hasten the onset of sex, increase the frequency of sex, nor increase the number of sexual partners.
Family planning clinics probably prevent a large number of teen pregnancies - although there is remarkably little evidence to support this common-sense view. However, several rigorous studies have indicated that when clinics provide high-quality educational materials, discuss the adolescent patient's sexual and contraceptive behavior, and give a clear message about that behavior, clinics can increase contraceptive use, although not always for a prolonged period of time.
While substantial numbers of sexually experienced female students in schools with school-based or school-linked clinics obtain contraceptives from those clinics, and while students obtain large numbers of condoms from schools when schools provide those condoms in private locations and with few restrictions, studies measuring the impact of such programs on contraceptive use have produced mixed results. However, as is the case for sex education, studies have consistently shown that making condoms or other contraceptives available in schools does not hasten or increase sexual activity.

For more information, contact: National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

Sexual Health Education Does Lead to Safer Sexual Behaviour. This 1997 review, commissioned by the Joint United Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), found that sexual health education for children and young people promotes safer sexual practice and does not increase their sexual activity. Good quality programs help delay first intercourse and protect sexually-active youth from STDs, including HIV, and from pregnancy. The review found 22 studies which reported that HIV and/or sexual health education either delayed the onset of sexual activity, reduced the number of sexual partners, or reduced unplanned pregnancy and STD rates.

Sexuality Education and Young People's Behavior. This 1997 article extends research originally commissioned by The World Health Organization's Global Programme on AIDS, determined that the majority of studies that evaluated interventions reported that STD/HIV and sexuality education neither increased nor decreased sexual activity or rates of pregnancy and/or STDs. In fact, many reported that STD/HIV and/or sexuality education delayed the onset of sexual activity, reduced the number of sexual partners, or reduced unplanned pregnancy and STD rates.

A. Grunseit et al, " Sexuality Education and Young People's Behavior: A Review of Studies." Journal of Adolescent Research, 1997, vol. 12 issue 4, pp. 421-53.

For a copy of this article, please contact the SIECUS Mary S. Calderone library at: 212-819-9770.

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