223582 Effectiveness of WAIT Training – an Abstinence-only Education Model

Monday, November 8, 2010

Chao Li Sr., Bachelor of Medicine , Department of Public Health, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY
Darlene L. Shearer, DrPh , Department of Public Health, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY
Background: Premarital sexual activity among teens continues to be a controversial issue in the U.S. WAIT (Why Am I Tempted) Training is a curriculum that delivers key health and youth development messages through abstinence only education in classroom settings. This study compared pre and post scores of teens to determine the overall effectiveness of abstinence until marriage training that was conducted in public and private schools in a large urban county of Florida. Methods: Participants were 12 to 18 years of age who participated in five hours of training. Pre and Post tests were linked by a unique ID number that resulted in 1230 matched pairs. Analyses examined knowledge, beliefs, and confidence related to sexual activity and abstinence. A Principle Component Analysis identified 3 constructs of beliefs (consequences of sex and abstinence, influence of peers, and pragmatic thinking). Results: Findings showed that knowledge, beliefs, and confidence related to remaining abstinent improved significantly as a result of the training. The improvement varied by demographics and by school type. Larger change scores in knowledge about sex were observed for younger students (p<0.000) and students from “other” racial/ethnic backgrounds (p<0.013), while change scores in abstinence knowledge were greatest for younger female students (p<0.009). Change scores in abstinence confidence did not vary by demographics or school type. Conclusions: WAIT Training appears to be an effective short-term education program for delivering messages about abstinence until marriage. It is more effective for younger students but further studies are needed to support these findings.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related education
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
To describe adolescent populations for whom WAIT Training may be effective for promoting abstinence until marriage.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Health Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a student in the MPH program at Western Kentucky University and conducted the analysis.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.