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December 20, 2007
Sex Ed Found to Delay Kids' First Experience
Contrary to prior research, teenagers who receive formal sex education in school are far less likely to have sexual intercourse at an earlier age than those in an abstinence-only program, Reuters reports (news.yahoo.com, 12/19).
The study—which followed more than 2,000 teens between the ages of 15 and 19—found that teenage boys who had sex education were 71 percent less likely to have sex before the age of 15, while teenage girls who had sex education were 59 percent less likely to have sex before turning 15.
“Sex education seems to be working,” CDC epidemiologist and study leader Trisha Mueller told Reuters. “It seems to be especially effective for populations that are usually at high risk.”
According to the story, the study also showed that teenage boys who had formal sex education were three times more likely to use contraceptives during the first time they had sex.
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Previous Comments:
comments 1 - 3 (of 3 total)
Jason 1948, Snowflake, AZ, 2007-12-27 18:59:17
This just shows that keeping curions teenagers in the dark, and preaching abstinence only, is not the best way to prevent early sexual experimentation and the hazards that go along with it - pregnancy and std's.
And yet the religious establishment continues to hold to its preconceived notions, in spite of thousands of years of failure.
Let's see the abstinence-only crowd try to refute these findings!
Arvin Eyre, Cascade, Montana, 2007-12-27 14:28:33
OH, dugh, I was 21 before haveing my first sex experiance. I also had a good sex education as an 8th grader. Wake up America
D.Williams, Houston, 2007-12-27 14:06:05
These results are not surprising. Prevention education is extremely important and cheaper than having to respond the experiences that arrive when there is no education. It is just unfortunate that that preventive education that has to do with sex is not provided at time it is needed.
The effort to put the information should continue to be made available.
This goes for all prevention education in health specifically.
