Though the teen birth rate in the U.S. is once again on the decline, an abstinence education advocate explains why problems still remain with the approach taken on sex education.
With the exception of a two-year increase from 2005 to 2007, the teen birth rate has been declining since 1991. But despite the falling numbers, the rate continues to vary greatly by state. For example, New Hampshire has the lowest teen birth rate at 19.8 births per 1,000, while Mississippi averages 65.7 per 1,000.
Valerie Huber, executive director of the National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA), believes it is critical that teaching abstinence -- "not just the information about it, but providing young people the skills to abstain" -- be made a high priority.
While she notes that American tax dollars have been going toward sex education and contraceptives, Huber points out that a number of problems remain unattended. "We know [teens are] not reliable contraceptive users. And not only that, there's an inherent risk when this is the best message that we offer," she suggests.
The NAEA executive director adds that the Obama administration's decision to remove virtually all funding for abstinence education has not helped her cause. "This past September 30, almost 170 organizations lost all funding for abstinence education," she laments.
Prior to the loss of funding, Huber estimates that at least one million students had been getting the message "to wait."
Contact: Chris Woodward
Source: OneNewsNow
Publish Date: October 25, 2010
