| After two years,
one-third of the abstinence-only group reported having sex, compared to
one-half of the control group. The study by researchers at the
University of Pennsylvania appears in the February 1 edition of the
Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
While abstinence-only intervention did not eliminate
sexual activity all together, this is the first randomized controlled
study to demonstrate that an abstinence-only intervention reduced the
percentage of adolescents who reported any sexual intercourse for a long
period, in this case two years, following the intervention.
"It is extremely important to find an effective
intervention that delays sexual activity; the younger someone is when
they have sex for the first time, the less likely they are to use
condoms," said lead author John B. Jemmott III, PhD, professor of
Communication in Psychiatry and of Communication at the University of
Pennsylvania's School of Medicine and Annenberg School for
Communication. "Abstinence-only interventions may have an important role
in delaying sexual activity until a time later in life when the
adolescent is more prepared to handle to consequences of sex. This can
reduce undesirable consequences of sex, including pregnancy and sexually
transmitted infections like HIV/AIDS."
There was a 33 percent reduction in self-reported
sexual intercourse from the abstinence-only group, compared to the
control group, by the end of the study. Of the students who reported
that they were sexually active during the study, there were fewer
reports of recent sexual activity from the abstinence-only intervention
participants (20.6 percent) compared to the control participants (29.0
percent).
The authors cautioned that before any policy issues
are discussed, more research is needed to determine the efficacy of
abstinence-only education for different populations, including
replication of a study like this in young African Americans. "Policy
should not be based on just one study, but an accumulation of empirical
findings from several well-designed, well-executed studies," said Dr.
Jemmott.
A total of 662 African American students in grades 6
and 7 participated in this randomized controlled trial, which was held
on Saturdays in classrooms at four public schools participating in the
study. The students were randomly assigned to an 8-hour abstinence-only
intervention, an 8-hour safer sex-only intervention, an 8- or 12-hour
combined abstinence and safer-sex intervention, or an 8-hour
health-promotion control group. Participants in the comprehensive
intervention had reduced reports of multiple sexual partners compared
with the control group (8.8 percent vs. 14.1 percent).
Researchers determined that none of the interventions
had significant effects on consistent condom use or unprotected sex. For
those who lost their virginity during the two year study, there was no
difference in consistent condom use between the abstinence-only
intervention and the control group.
The abstinence-only intervention was based on
principles shown to be effective in reducing the risk of sexually
transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS, and did not use a
moralistic tone or portray sex in a negative light. It encouraged
abstinence as a way to eliminate the risk of pregnancy and STIs. During
the 8-hour abstinence-only session, study facilitators used brief and
interactive small group activities to build the pre-teens' knowledge of
HIV and STIs, bolster beliefs supporting practicing abstinence, and
improve skills and confidence to help negotiate abstinence and resist
pressure to have sex.
The researchers noted that, in the United States, the
consequences of early sexual involvement – including HIV, other STIs,
and unintended pregnancies – are especially great among African American
adolescents. An effective abstinence-only intervention could stave off
unwanted consequences until adolescents mature and are prepared to
handle the consequences of sex. |
