Contemporary Sexuality - November 2008 - (Page 7) Quick Hits: Sex in the News Researcher finds ‘no strong Fewer Canadian teens are evidence’ that abstinence having sex programs work The Canadian government reports that fewer A new study by Doug Kirby, PhD, has found that abstinence-only sexuality education programs don’t work. Published in the September issue of Sexuality Research & Social Policy, the paper examined 56 studies that measured the impact of both abstinence-only and comprehensive sexuality programs. “Study results indicated that most abstinence programs did not delay initiation of sex and only 3 of the 9 had any significant positive effects on any sexual behavior,” Kirby wrote. (The other programs reviewed were comprehensive.) The comprehensive sexuality programs fared better. About two-thirds of those programs increased contraceptive use or delayed the age of first sexual intercourse. As a result, Kirby concluded, “abstinence programs have little evidence to warrant their widespread replication; conversely, strong evidence suggests that some comprehensive programs should be disseminated widely.” Earlier this year, Kirby made a much less sweeping statement about abstinence-only programs. In the February 2008 issue of Contemporary Sexuality, Kirby said, “Some carefully selected abstinence programs are not effective.” The conclusion of his most recent paper, called “The Impact of Abstinence and Comprehensive Sex and STD/HIV Education Programs on Adolescent Sexual Behavior,” is more specific. Writes Kirby, “1. Some evidence (but no strong evidence) currently supports the supposition that any particular abstinence program is effective at delaying first sex for adolescents. 2. Abstinence programs are not more effective at delaying initiation of sex than comprehensive sex education programs. 3. Abstinence programs are not sufficiently effective to eliminate teens’ sexual risk or to eliminate the need for comprehensive sex education programs. 4. Much strong evidence supports the supposition that comprehensive sex education programs can both delay initiation of sex and increase condom or other contraceptive use among youth.” (Sexuality Research & Social Policy, September 2008) teens in that country are having sexual intercourse. In 2005, 43 percent of teens aged 15 to 19 reported that they had had sexual intercourse at least once, down from 47 percent in 1996/1997. The decline was due to young women, among whom the proportion who reported having had sexual intercourse fell from 51 percent to 43 percent. The proportion of young men who had had intercourse remained unchanged at 43 percent. “Youth have become progressively more knowledgeable about sexuality and as a result they are far more reflective in terms of making decisions about their sexual behavior,” says Alex McKay of the Sex Information and Education Council of Canada. The percentage of teens reporting sexual intercourse was higher at older ages. Around two-thirds of those aged 18 or 19 had had intercourse, compared with about one-third of those aged 15 to 17. The proportion of teens who reported becoming sexually active at an early age also declined. In 2005, 8 percent reported having had sexual intercourse before they were 15, down from 12 percent in 1996/1997. The proportion fell among girls, but did not change significantly among boys. About one-third of teens aged 15 to 19 who had had intercourse in the year before the survey reported having done so with more than one partner, roughly the same percentage as in 1996/1997. A higher percentage of boys than girls reported multiple partners, a finding consistent with other studies. (Statistics Canada press release, Aug. 20 and Toronto Star, Aug. 21) “Abstinence programs have little evidence to warrant their widespread replication; conversely, strong evidence suggests that some comprehensive programs should be disseminated widely.” — Doug Kirby Internet’s Fotolog fuels Chilean teens’ sex lives The Cadillac Club and Bar Urbano — two nightclubs in Santiago, Chile — are sexual hotpots. But not for adults. They are famous for underage parties where teenagers kiss, grope and sometimes engage in oral sex. This is a surprise to many observers because Chile was once considered South America’s most conservative country. Abortion is illegal in the nation and divorce wasn’t permitted until four years ago. continued on page 8 November 2008 Vol. 42, No. 11 | www.aasect.org Contemporary Sexuality 7 http://www.aasect.org
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