New research suggests ‘abstinence-only sex education’ does little to dissuade teenagers from having sex. Just saying no may not be an effective strategy in keeping kids from having sex, a newly released study reports. The evaluation, conducted by Mathematica Policy Research Inc. on behalf of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, examined the impact of the abstinence-only-until-marriage programs funded under the 1996 federal welfare reform law. Through the study, more than 2,000 children were randomly assigned to groups that received abstinence-only counselling and those that received no counselling. Over the next four to six years, numerous surveys were done to determine the impact of these programs on the behaviour of the kids. Researchers found no evidence that these abstinence-only programs increased rates of sexual abstinence. The study also showed that the students participating in these abstinence-only programs had a similar number of sexual partners as their peers not in the programs, and that the age of first sex was similar for both groups too. "The basic takeaway message is that there are no differences between the two groups on any behavioural outcomes," says lead study author, Christopher Trenholm, a senior researcher at Mathematica Policy Research. Debate Continues Over Effectiveness Some sexuality experts say the study only confirms what most sexuality researchers have already known that abstinence-only programs simply do not work. "The data coming forth now is simple proof, solid, unassailable evidence to back up what many of us have known from the get-go," says Joy Davidson, a certified sex therapist in New York City. But the debate still continues on which is the most effective way to help particularly the youth to abstain from sex till marriage since sex has become a very normal element in most relationships. Even the religious principle of not fornicating before marriage is now totally ignored by most. So what’s the way forward? Is abstinence even possible for most of today’s youth? What do you think? SOURCE: ABC NEWS