During the first year of this abstinence-only sexuality education project, data were available for 1,227 youth participating in education and community pilots in Iowa. This session presents data from 731 of these students who completed pre-post tests to assess changes they may have made in their attitudes and behavioral intentions as a result of program exposure. Few changes were observed among students, although more favorable attitudes toward abstinence were expressed by students when compared to students exposed to comprehensive sexuality education programs. Of special concern to health and social service workers were the number of students who reported forced or threatened sexual behavior as the reasons they had not remained abstinent. The implications of these programs are presented with emphasis on comparability to programs which also provide birth control information. This study is among the first evaluation reports on this new federal initiative; therefore findings are tentative.
Learning Objectives: 1. Knowledge of federal legislation mandating abstinence-only education 2. Knowledge of study methods 3. Knowledge of study findings 4. Knowledge of implications
Keywords: Sexuality,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.