Safe-Sex Programs Don't Increase Activity

May 30 -- Sex education and other programs that tellteenagers how to avoid pregnancy and AIDS do not encourage them to experiment and in some cases discourage it, a review of some 250studies found.

The review, sponsored by the National Campaign to Prevent TeenPregnancy, identified a handful of programs that have succeeded inreducing teen pregnancy, including a handful that talk straight toteens about sex and a couple that focus on community service,giving teens constructive alternatives.

There remains no evidence about whether "abstinence-only"programs, a favorite of conservatives, are effective, the reviewsaid, even as the Bush administration proposes an increase infederal funding for them. A national evaluation of a $250 millionabstinence program created by the 1996 welfare law is now underway, but results are not available.

Abstinence, Birth Control Message Not Mixed

Backers of these programs believe that talking about thebenefits of birth control while encouraging abstinence sends amixed message, but the report released today disagrees.

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"The overwhelming weight of evidence shows that sex educationthat discusses contraception does not increase sexual activity,"concludes the report, "Emerging Answers," written by researcherDouglas Kirby, a senior researcher at ETR Associates in ScottsValley, Calif.

Four years ago, Kirby conducted a similar review of studiesabout teen pregnancy prevention and concluded that almost none ofthe programs that had been evaluated made a difference. This time,he reports, the findings are more optimistic.

Teen pregnancy, abortion and birth rates have been falling since1991, and birth rates are now at their lowest level recorded, withabout 50 out of every 1,000 girls aged 15 to 19 giving birth in1999, a 20 percent drop since 1991.

Experts point out that teen sexual activity has dropped as useof condoms increased — both largely due to fear of AIDS. Still, communities often struggle when trying to create programs to reduce their rates.