Study Is Further Proof That Abstinence-Only Doesn't Work

Washington, DC — In response to the Friday evening release of Mathematica’s evaluation of abstinence-only programs, Planned Parenthood of Alabama, Inc. (PPA) called on Congress to stop funding programs that don't work and instead support medically accurate, comprehensive sex education with the Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act. The Mathematica study found that when compared to a control group, students who attended abstinence-only programs were no more likely to delay sexual activity or have fewer partners.

Felicia Brown Williams, PPA Vice President of Public Affairs and director of their Mississippi public affairs program, issued the following statement:

"The results of this study come as no surprise. It is time for local, state and national leaders to realize that wasting money on abstinence-only programs does not prevent unintended pregnancy or reduce the rates of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. Mississippi’s leaders need to recognize that we owe our children and teens more—our youth deserve the information necessary to protect themselves and their futures.

Mississippi’s youth need comprehensive sex education, including abstinence education and medically accurate sex information, to make informed decisions about their health.

One need only review the teen pregnancy statistics and rates of sexually transmitted infections to see that it is obvious that abstinence-only education is failing our state."

The bipartisan REAL Act would create a grant program administered by the Department of Health and Human Services that would fund comprehensive sex education programs in schools nationwide. Currently, no federal program is dedicated to supporting comprehensive sex education, despite the proven effectiveness of such programs. It is estimated that only 10 percent of all American school districts have a sexuality education policy that is comprehensive and includes information about contraception and safer sex in addition to abstinence.

For more information on the REAL Act or on Planned Parenthood resources for teens and parents, please visit www.plannedparenthood.org.