Success seen with new abstinence program

Billed as the first rigorous research to show long-term success with an abstinence-only approach, the study differed from traditional programs that have lost federal and state support in recent years. The classes didn't preach saving sex until marriage or disparage condom use.

Instead, it involved assignments to help sixth- and seventh graders see the drawbacks to sexual activity at their age, including having them list the pros and cons themselves. Their cons far outnumbered the pros.

The students, mostly 12-year-olds, were assigned to one of four options: eight hour-long abstinence-only classes, safe-sex classes, classes incorporating both approaches; or classes in general healthy behavior, which served as a control group. Results for each class were compared with the control group.

Two years later, about one-third of abstinence-only students said they'd had sex since the classes ended, versus nearly half - about 49 percent - of the control group. Sexual activity rates in the other two groups didn't differ from the control group.

The study was released Monday in the February edition of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

Critics of abstinence-only programs have long argued that most evidence shows they don't work. The new study challenges that, but even the authors say the results don't mean more comprehensive sex education should be ignored.

Advocacy groups favoring traditional abstinence-only programs praised the study and said it shows that the Obama administration's move away from funding these programs is misguided.

The administration has focused on programs proven to prevent teen pregnancy. But the study is unlikely to revive enthusiasm for a narrow abstinence approach, and an Archives editorial suggests that it shouldn't.

"No public policy should be based on the results of one study, nor should policy makers selectively use scientific literature to formulate a policy that meets preconceived ideologies," said the editorial by Dr. Frederick Rivara, the journal's editor, and Dr. Alain Joffe, an associate editor.