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Pediatricians: Abstinence on the Rise

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reveals that nearly 60 percent of high school students today have never had sex – an increase of 28 percent since 1991 — http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm

Factsheet: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/pdf/2015/2015_us_pregnancy.pdf

In a press statement about the report, the American College of Pediatricians says the news “demonstrates clearly that Sexual Risk Avoidance (SRA), or sexual abstinence, is a relevant message for youth and a goal they can achieve.”

In addition, the College says the CDC’s report also shows that Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE) is “failing.”

“Teens who do choose to engage in sexual activity are using less birth control; sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the rise, as is adolescent depression, sometimes referred to as the emotional STI,” the College notes.

“Sexual abstinence is the only behavior choice that offers adolescents 100% protection against the triple epidemic of depression, STIs and teen pregnancy due to early sexual debut.”

Planned Parenthood has long pushed for sex education in schools that includes information about abortion, birth control, and – more recently – “LGBTQ-inclusive sex ed.” The abortion business announced in December it’s working with militant LGBT groups such as the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), the Human Rights Campaign, and the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS) to promote so-called “safe sex” among LGBTQ youth.

The groups are jointly attacking “abstinence only” education in a new brief titled “A Call to Action: LGBTQ Youth Need Inclusive Sex Education,” which calls for a “safe and accepting space” for LGBTQ students in schools and the requirement of LGBTQ-inclusive sex education programs in schools.

GLSEN, in fact, wants schools to be required to use instructional time to provide “LGBTQ inclusive education for all students – from crucial guidance for LGBTQ students on protecting themselves from HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, to ensuring safe, supportive environments in which to learn about their sexual health.”

In Arizona – where sex ed is not required – one school board voted to update its curriculum and asked parents for their input, reports Public News Service.

“[F]or some years Planned Parenthood Arizona has taken a leadership role, encouraging both consistency and accuracy in sex-education programs, one school district at a time,” the news report says, continuing:

… Dr. Michelle Cretella, president of the American College of Pediatricians, tells Breitbart News the CDC’s report shows that Planned Parenthood’s continued push for Comprehensive Sex Education in schools, based on the narrative that “teens are going to have sex anyway,” is “bogus.”

“It is utterly ridiculous for Planned Parenthood to claim sexuality education can be taught in a ‘values neutral’ fashion,” she asserts. “Sexual activity is not values neutral; it is relational – impacting self and others – and therefore a moral matter by definition.”

Cretella adds:

How we treat ourselves and others is not values neutral and acceptable. Sexual behavior goes well beyond Planned Parenthood’s advice to be sure to “obtain consent” to have sex. Moreover, teen pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, depression and suicide are not values neutral. They only visit themselves upon those who are taught not to value sexual abstinence. There is no condom, contraceptive or vaccine to protect the head or the heart. Sex is not child’s play.

Cretella says she has reviewed lesson plans from various Planned Parenthood-endorsed comprehensive sex education programs.

“They are far from comprehensive, are written in a way that normalizes and encourages teen sexual activity, and also contain medical inaccuracies,” she states, adding:

This should come as no surprise. Planned Parenthood not only profits from the sale of contraceptives, but also from the sale of abortions due to contraceptive failure, which disproportionately occurs among adolescents. Entrusting our children to Planned Parenthood to receive “comprehensive and medically accurate sexuality education” is like entrusting them to Big Tobacco to receive comprehensive and accurate education about cigarette smoking.

Cretella advises school boards to review the Sexual Risk Avoidance programs featured in SRA Works 2016 [http://www.abstinenceassociation.org/ ], which she states are “comprehensive, medically accurate and evidence based, meaning they have been shown to delay sexual debut.”

Resources
2016 CDC Report on Teen Pregnancy (from 2015 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey)
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm
Factsheet — http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/pdf/2015/2015_us_pregnancy.pdf
Abstinence Association
http://www.abstinenceassociation.org/
Congress Gives Sexual Risk Avoidance (SRA) Education A Boost (16 Dec 2015)
http://www.abstinenceassociation.org/newsroom/congress_gives_sra_boost.html
Great News for Teen Pregnancy Prevention
https://www.acpeds.org/great-news-for-teen-pregnancy-prevention
Sexual Responsibility
https://www.acpeds.org/parents/sexuality/sexual-responsibility-2

[Dr. Susan Berry, 23 Jun 2016, http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/06/23/pediatricians-abstinence-on-the-rise/ ]

 

Great News for Teen Pregnancy Prevention

The American College of Pediatricians (the College) calls attention to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that reveals almost 60% of high school students today have never had sex.

This represents an increase of 28%* since 1991.

It demonstrates clearly that Sexual Risk Avoidance (SRA), or sexual abstinence, is a relevant message for youth and a goal they can achieve.

With the onset of puberty comes a natural interest in and attraction for sexual activity.

The decision to engage in recreational sexual activity or delay until marriage is one of the most important decisions a youth will make.

Sexual activity has powerful effects upon each participant’s mind, emotions and physical body that can yield life-long negative consequences.

We also know from a new report on teen behavior by the CDC ( http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm ) that Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE) is failing.

Teens who do choose to engage in sexual activity are using less birth control; sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the rise, as is adolescent depression, sometimes referred to as the emotional STI.

Sexual abstinence is the only behavior choice that offers adolescents 100% protection against the triple epidemic of depression, STIs and teen pregnancy due to early sexual debut.

The College urges all physicians, mental health professionals, educators and legislators to join parents in promoting sexual abstinence to youth as an attainable goal that is clearly the best for children.

Many resources available to achieve this are found on the American College of Pediatricians website page, Sexual Responsibility ( https://www.acpeds.org/parents/sexuality/sexual-responsibility-2 ).

*(The percentage increase is determined by dividing the new stat (58.8%) by the 1991 stat (45.9%). This equals 1.28 or an increase of 28%.)
[22 June 2016, https://www.acpeds.org/great-news-for-teen-pregnancy-prevention ]

 

Congress Gives Sexual Risk Avoidance (SRA) Education A Boost (16 Dec 2015)

Lawmakers Increase Funding and Improve Policy So Youth Can Focus on Future Rather Than Sex
Early this morning, the House released the long-awaited Omnibus spending bill for Fiscal Year 2016. Tucked within the many pages of the bill are several policy changes in the nation’s sex education priorities. Three improvements have a direct impact on Sexual Risk Avoidance (SRA) education, funded through the annual appropriations process:

1. Funding. Funding for Sexual Risk Avoidance (SRA) education is doubled from $5 million to $10 million. The disparity is still great between SRA and so-called “comprehensive” sex education (or more accurately Sexual Risk Reduction [SRR] education), but this year’s omnibus is a step in the right direction. SRR education received funding at $90 million.

2. New Language. Legislative language governing the SRA program ensures that students will receive clear and accurate information and skills to avoid sexual risk. The new language is taken from the Healthy Relationships Act, introduced in the House by Rep. Randy Hultgren and Rep. Dan Lipinski, and in the Senate by Sen. Lindsey Graham.

3. New Name. The term “sexual risk avoidance” more clearly describes the optimal health priorities of our programs. Congress replaced the term “abstinence education” for “sexual risk avoidance” to reflect the overriding health benefits teens experience when they forgo sexual activity. Consistent with how the public health community addresses other youth risks, the sexual risk avoidance approach offers a well-defined and consistent emphasis on information and skills that help youth avoid all sexual risk.

With the expected and quick passage of the Omnibus, these important improvements to federal sex education policy set a new precedent for teen health.

“We are encouraged that Congress listened to the majority of Americans* who say that pregnancy-prevention-only programs are not enough for our youth. They say that youth deserve all the skills to help them thrive – skills that are a part of SRA programs,” declared Valerie Huber, President/CEO of Ascend.

“We are encouraged that Congress is committed to reinforcing and amplifying the good decisions of the majority of youth. Most teens have not had sex – and that percentage has increased more than 15% over the past 20 years.** Finally, more sex education classes will help youth build healthy relationships, avoid all the consequences of teen sex, and ascend to brighter and healthier futures,” she continued.

“The legislative changes are important and the increased funding is one step closer to parity between SRA and SRR programs, a continuing goal for Ascend.”

Ascend applauds Congress for making important improvements to sex education funding and policy. The future of our youth trumps politics. The FY 2016 Omnibus sets a good precedent for that future.

*About 70% of Americans say students should learn how to avoid all the consequences of sex, rather than merely receive a pregnancy prevention message, according to the July 2015 Americans Speak Out Survey. Research conducted by the Barna Group.

** The CDC reveals more than a 15% decrease in the percent of teens who have had sex from 1991-2013.

[ http://www.abstinenceassociation.org/newsroom/congress_gives_sra_boost.html ]