Why Abstinence-Only Sex Education Is Ineffective to Stop HIV and Other STD Infection?

A series of recent comprehensive studies and evidence were conducted that Abstinence-only sex education(AOE), which is a type of sex education that urges avoiding sexual intercourse until marriage, is proven as not an effective form of sexual education for avoiding HIV in American youth. There is not any proof to pursue that abstinence-only-until-marriage methods produce the planned continuing behavioral consequences which they purpose – success like waiting in the dating process as well as cuts in accidental pregnancies as well as STIs.

Lack of Practical Behavior Conduct

The goal of this type of education is to stop unwanted pregnancy and the increase of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) but young people are still infected by HIV and other STDs.

It has been evaluated in a key study conducted by Mathematica Policy Research that four AOE programs that were reviewed after eight years of their implementation did not decrease teen sexuality. In another study of nine AOE programs conducted by scientist Douglas Kirby in 2008, the same results were that the programs had "no overall influence on adolescents' delay in initiation of sex, age at initiation of sex, return to abstinence, number of sexual partners, or condom or contraceptive use". In addition, two things considered to be the goals of any successful sexual education program, the increased knowledge of HIV and the use of protection, are found to be deficient in results.

The failure of AOE programs at obtaining these results should be considered reason enough to be ineffective in stopping HIV and STDs. These programs provide very confined education about condoms and contraceptives.

Misconceptions and Outright Falsehood Information

Misleading information in abstinence sex education is widespread. The teachers try to explain and make their conclusion believable by uncertain spirituality and also technological quotations, unproven statements, and even prejudiced findings or overall falsehoods concerning the performance of contraceptives, and gender attributes, not to mention one existence starts.

A further study conducted by Mathematica Policy Research has found that regardless of the teachings to remain abstinent, about half of all teens are sexually active by the time they leave high school, which further indicates the need for those youth to be educated on methods of preventing the transmission of STDs like HIV. Condom use is a key method of preventing the spread of HIV. Unfortunately, youth in AOE programs are not taught this potentially life-saving information. Rather, these AEO programs provide out-of-date information that misjudges the ability of condoms to prevent HIV, and they are led to believe that condoms allow the spread of HIV.

AOE could inversely raise the possibility of STI

Surprisingly, an additional current study demonstrates abstinence-only methods could prevent contraceptive application among sexually dynamic teenagers, raising their danger of accidental maternity as well as STIs. The effects of this misinformation on youth have also been studied, and the results are disheartening.

A study conducted by Dr. Kirby found that the youth in these AOE programs have also been affected by the misinformation they provide and youth in AOE programs were much less likely than youth not in AOE programs to see condoms as effective at preventing STDs. The endeavor at reducing the spread of HIV and AIDS is notably affected by a deficiency of understanding about how to effectively stop HIV. It is clearly understood to abstain youth from having sex for as long as possible, regardless, it should still be assured that they are properly informed and prepared about when they should begin having sex. These programs should no longer be allowed to represent falsified and deficient education as long as the rate of HIV infection in teens and young adults is increasing.