New Findings by The Institute for Research & Evaluation: Comprehensive Sex Ed Not Working in U.S. Schools
Results are in, Comprehensive Sex Ed is not working!
The Institute for Research & Evaluation has released the results of a new analysis, entitled “Re-Examining the Evidence: School-Based Comprehensive Sex Education in the United States,” which examines the outcome research on sex education, with findings that contradict “effectiveness” claims for Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE) in U.S. schools.
Key findings about CSE’s lack of effectiveness in U.S. schools:
– Teen Pregnancy: Only one of the 40 school-based CSE programs evaluated by the 60 studies reported a reduction in teen pregnancy.
– STD Prevention: None of the school-based CSE studies demonstrated a reduction in teen STDs, in fact, only two measured it.
– Teen Abstinence: Four of the 60 school-based CSE studies reported 12-month increases in teen abstinence, 12 other studies of the same programs found no such positive effects and one negative effect.
– Consistent Condom Use: None of the school-based CSE programs showed effectiveness at increasing consistent condom use by teens.
– CSE’s Intended Dual Benefit: None of the school-based CSE programs showed success at achieving the purported dual benefit of the “comprehensive” strategy—increasing both teen abstinence and condom use within the same teen population. No program produced sustained effects on both outcomes.
– Negative Effects: Five of the 40 school-based CSE programs evaluated by these 60 studies produced significant negative effects (i.e., increases in sexual initiation, recent sex, oral sex, or pregnancy) for the target population or a substantial subgroup of teens.
To read more from Benzinga, click here.