Yet another study: Abstinence only education doesn't work

A new study put out by the nonpartisan National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy reports that abstinence-only education does not affect teenager's sexual behavior.

"At present there does not exist any strong evidence that any abstinence program delays the initiation of sex, hastens the return to abstinence or reduces the number of sexual partners" among teenagers, the study concluded.

The study found that while abstinence-only efforts appear to have little positive impact, more comprehensive sex education programs were having "positive outcomes" including teenagers "delaying the initiation of sex, reducing the frequency of sex, reducing the number of sexual partners and increasing condom or contraceptive use."

In other words? Abstinence education is a big fat waste of money.

The report also debunked myths about comprehensive sex-ed that the abstinence crowd like to spout--that it promotes promiscuity and so forth. Douglas Kirby, one of the researchers, said that instead comprehensive sex ed improves teens' knowledge about pregnancy and STDs and gives them "confidence in their ability to say 'no' to unwanted sex."

I can't wait to see what the pro-abstinence folks will say about this.