Researchers Hit "Abstinence-Plus"

On Tuesday, Heritage Foundation researchers cautioned Congress against opening abstinence education funding to abstinence-plus programs, citing their lack of emphasis on abstinence messages. Federal funding earmarked for abstinence education has doubled since President Bush took office, to $167 million, and Bush is asking for an additional $39 million for fiscal 2006. Comprehensive sex education supporters have asked Congress to rewrite abstinence education funding criteria to include abstinence-plus programs.

In a review of programs, welfare analyst Robert Rector and colleagues at the conservative think tank found that nine abstinence-only programs spent 54 percent of time on abstinence messages, 17 percent on "healthy relationships and benefits of marriage" and no time supporting contraceptive use. In comparison, nine abstinence-plus sex education programs spent nearly 29 percent of their time on contraception, 25 percent on HIV/STD awareness, 25 percent on "general behavioral skills" and 4.7 percent on abstinence.

The federal government has no funds earmarked for comprehensive sex education, said officials with Advocates for Youth and the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States. On Thursday, Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) are expected to introduce a bill allowing $206 million annually to be earmarked for comprehensive sex education programs that teach "medically accurate information about both abstinence and contraception," according to the sex education advocates.

The nine abstinence-plus programs reviewed by Heritage were AIDS Prevention for Adolescents in School; Becoming a Responsible Teen; Be Proud! Be Responsible!; Focus on Kids; Get Real About AIDS; Reducing the Risk; Safer Choices; Teen Talk; and Teen Outreach Program. The abstinence-only programs reviewed were Choosing the Best Life; Game Plan; Heritage Keepers; No Apologies; Operation Keepsake; Sex Respect; Teen-Aid; WAIT Training; and WhykNOw.

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