Abstinence is making a comeback with students

Although sexual content is available today at the touch of a keyboard or remote control, recent studies show teenagers are remarkably open to messages about abstinence, Virginia officials say.

According to a 2005 report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, teenagers in abstinence education programs throughout the nation are beginning to embrace the concept of abstaining from sex.

An ongoing evaluation of such programs by the Virginia Department of Health is yielding similar results. Students who have been a part of the evaluation say they strongly agree that having sex as a teenager would negatively affect their lives by making it harder for them to study and stay in school in the future.

“We are encouraged by the trend in support for abstinence among teens and hope that this change in attitude is reflected in behavioral change,” said Gale Grant, director of the department’s Virginia Abstinence Education Initiative.

“Delaying sexual activity by as few as 18 months greatly reduces a teen’s risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease or having an unintended pregnancy.”

The programs may be producing the response Grant is hoping for.

A 2004 survey by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that less than half of the country’s high school students are sexually active.

The Virginia Abstinence Education Initiative focuses on “helping adolescents make healthy choices about their future and creating a supportive environment for abstinence education across the Commonwealth.” The initiative incorporates a team of supporters for its education, involving everyone from parents, teens, educators and health professionals to faith community workers and youth service providers.

The project conveys its abstinence message through brochures, posters and parent toolkits. It also provides information through a Web site, www.canwait.com.