2008-03-28 Sex Ed Can Help Prevent Teen Pregnancy

2008-03-28  Washington Post \sex education\comprehensive sex education\abstinence-based education\teen pregnancy\science/studies/results\science/papers\2008/J Adolesc Health/Abstinence-only and comprehensive sex education and the initiation of sexual activity and teen pregnancy http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/24/AR2008032401515.html Sex Ed Can Help Prevent Teen Pregnancy Sex Ed Can Help Prevent Teen Pregnancy Source paper: 2008/J Adolesc Health/Abstinence-only and comprehensive sex education and the initiation of sexual activity and teen pregnancy Comprehensive sex education may help reduce teen pregnancies without increasing levels of sexual intercourse or sexually transmitted diseases.

So find U.S. researchers who reviewed data from a 2002 national survey of more than 1,700 heterosexual teens, ages 15 to 19.

There is ongoing debate about whether abstinence-only education or comprehensive sex education (including instruction in birth control) is best for students.

Study lead author Pamela Kohler, a program manager at the University of Washington in Seattle, and colleagues found that about 25 percent of teens received abstinence-only education and about two-thirds received comprehensive sex education. About 9 percent -- particularly teens from poor families and those in rural areas -- received no sex education at all.

&ldquo;Comprehensive sex education may help reduce teen pregnancies without increasing levels of sexual intercourse or sexually transmitted diseases.&rdquo;   