Abstinence-Only and Comprehensive Sex Education and the Initiation of Sexual Activity and Teen Pregnancy

2008 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 344-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela K. Kohler ◽  
Lisa E. Manhart ◽  
William E. Lafferty
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Teen Pregnancy ◽  
Comprehensive Sex Education ◽  
Abstinence Only

Epilogue

2021 ◽  
pp. 241-254
Author(s):  
Kristy L. Slominski
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Sexuality Education ◽  
Federal Funding ◽  
Barack Obama ◽  
Religious Influence ◽  
George Bush ◽  
Full Swing ◽  
Abstinence Only ◽  
Religious Actors

The epilogue discusses the enormous power of recent presidential administrations to mold sex education through federal funding initiatives. Since 1996, the country has seen the pendulum in full swing, from the increase in abstinence-only support under President George Bush, to advancement of comprehensive sexuality education under President Barack Obama, to serious efforts to shift funds toward abstinence-only programs under current President Donald Trump. The legacies of religious sex educators established select terms of these discussions, especially in portrayals of what is at stake. Throughout this history, religious people have proven that the concept of morality could be used to expand discourses of sexuality beyond physical considerations, to limit these discussions to the restriction of sexual activity, or, in most cases, both. Contrary to narratives that pit secular sex education against religious actors, religious influence has been and continues to be both multidimensional and pervasive in the development of sex education.

Abstinence-only or comprehensive sex education at Myanmar schools: preferences and knowledge among students, teachers, parents and policy makers

Sex Education ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-90
Author(s):  
Phyu Phyu Thin Zaw ◽  
Edward McNeil ◽  
Kyaw Oo ◽  
Tippawan Liabsuetrakul ◽  
Thien Thien Htay
Keyword(s):  
Sex Education ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Comprehensive Sex Education ◽  
Abstinence Only

Sex Education Policy: Need for a Standard Definition of Medically Accurate Information

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 221-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Courtney M. Gonzalez ◽  
Diana F. Karczmarczyk ◽  
Brittney L. Douress ◽  
Mackenzie M. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Teen Pregnancy ◽  
Public Health Education ◽  
The United States ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
Standard Definition ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Abstinence Only

In comparison with other Western industrialized nations, the rates of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among youth aged 15 to 19 in the United States is higher. Since the 1980s, the U.S. Federal Government has intervened to aid in lowering the rates of pregnancy and STIs among youth aged 15 to 19 by funding a variety of abstinence-only sex education programs. Despite almost $1.5 billion federal dollars spent on efforts to reduce pregnancy and STIs among this subpopulation, there have been overall unsustainable declines in pregnancy and STIs among youth aged 15 to 19. Significant concerns have been raised by health policy advocates, such as former Rep. Waxman (D-Calif.), and sexual health advocates about the lack of a definition for medically accurate curricula. Mixed interpretations of policies for sex education content have resulted in abstinence-only sex education programs targeting youth to reflect conservative ideology with information that is not medically accurate. To better understand the topic, a review of the historical time line and legislative actions of U.S. federal and state policies is presented. As an example, Mississippi’s state policy for sex education programs is analyzed and reviewed. Furthermore, the authors put forward the need for a standard definition of medically accurate information, offer a proposed definition, and discuss the limitations of a standard definition for sex education programs. Public health professionals and public health education specialists play a key role in ensuring that sex education programs be taught using medically accurate information to reduce the rate of STIs and prevent teen pregnancy consistently among youth aged 15 to 19.

scholarly journals An Implementation Evaluation of A Comprehensive Sex Education Program in a Rural Indiana County

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Estes ◽  
Carolyn Meagher ◽  
Monique Hensley ◽  
Abby Hunt ◽  
Cory Wuerch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Rural Community ◽  
Education Program ◽  
Teen Pregnancy ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Community Readiness ◽  
Implementation Framework ◽  
Comprehensive Sex Education

Background and Objective: Rural teen pregnancy is a significant public health problem, yet there are no evidence-based prevention programs (EBPs) developed for rural communities. Little is known about the process of implementing and adapting EBPs for rural communities. An implementation science framework is a useful way to methodologically examine EBPs replicated in new contexts. Specifically, the Evaluation, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) framework was utilized for this project. The purpose of this study is to describe the challenges and sucesses in the implementation of EBPs in a rural community.  Project Methods: Youth RISE! is a federally funded, evidence based, community-wide sex education program implemented in Clinton County, Indiana. Qualitative interviews were conducted with key stakeholders involved in implementing the program (n=22). Participants fulfilled diverse roles such as school administrators, teachers, local program partners, and the grantor. These interviews, conducted in-person or via telephone in 2018 and via Zoom in 2020, were subsequently transcribed, coded and analyzed using thematic analysis.  Codes were developed from the EPIS implementation framework and an initial review of transcripts and field notes.  Results: Participants described the Youth RISE! Program as overwhelmingly successful. Qualitative analysis revealed three central themes of Community Readiness, Transparency, and Buy-In. Community readiness included timing, involvement of trusted community partners, and framing teen pregnancy as a public health issue rather than a values issue. Transparency included frequent communication between all parties, positive messaging, and a strong presence in the community. Buy-in included parent, teacher, and school administration support as well as maintaining equal partnerships between the community, school, and partner agencies.  Conclusion and Potential Impact: Contrary to popular beliefs, this rural community was willing to implement comprehensive sex education programs in its schools. This data may be used to inform future implementation of EBPs in rural communities.  

7. Teenage Motherhood, Responsibility, and Docile Female

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Lam
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Health ◽  
Sexual Activity ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Teenage Pregnancy ◽  
Structural Factors ◽  
Education Curriculum ◽  
Female Bodies ◽  
Sex Education Curriculum ◽  
Abstinence Only ◽  
Health Experts

This research paper critiques the harmful dominant discourse in America which posits that teenage mothers are “unfit” parents because they bore a child outside the confines of heterosexuality, monogamy, marriage, and middle-class status. Based on secondary research, the paper uses a Foucauldian feminist perspective to argue that the negative discourse around teenage pregnancy and motherhood reified by America’s abstinence-only sex education curriculum and advice from sexual health experts seeks to produce docile female bodies. America’s abstinence-only sex education curriculum promotes gender differences in bodily movements whereby female sexual activity is demonized while male sexual activity is normalized. Sexual health experts also morally judge the teenage mother’s actions under the guise of professional knowledge, and fail to recognize the structural factors that may have contributed to teenage pregnancy as a means to produce docile female bodies. Additionally, both America’s abstinence-only sex education curriculum and sexual health experts absolve the teenage father of any responsibility. By challenging the sex education curriculum and sexual health experts, the power of language and discourse of authorities in framing what they consider to be a social problem will be brought to light.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document