A. Abstinence education works! Some nationwide results are as follows:

• According to the CDC, there has been a 13% decrease nationwide in teens having sex between 1991 and 2005, which coincides with an increase in abstinence education. (CDC, YRBSS, Trends in the Prevalence of Sexual Behavior, 2005)
• Increased abstinence is responsible for the majority of the nationwide decline in teen pregnancies. (Santelli, Journal of Adolescent Health, 2004)
• A number of peer-reviewed published studies show that abstinence education can decrease sexual initiation, increase abstinent behavior among sexually active teens and/or decrease the number of partners among sexually active teens. (Reasons of the Heart, American Journal of Health Behavior (in press); Best Friends, Adolescent and Family Health, 2005; Not Me, Not Now, Journal of Health Communications, 2001; Sex Respect/Teen Aid, Journal of Research and Development in Education, 1992; Postponing Sexual Involvement (Abstinence Version), Family Planning Perspectives, 1990; For Keeps, American Journal of Health Behavior, 2005; Heritage Keepers, Office of Population Affairs, HHS, 2005)

Parents strongly support abstinence education. In a recently conducted independent national Zogby poll:

• Parents preferred their child receive abstinence education over comprehensive sex education by a 2 to 1 margin.
• 8 out of 10 parents think it’s important for their teen to wait until they’re married to have sex.
• 8 out of 10 parents want schools to emphasize promoting abstinence over contraceptive use.

(Zogby International Poll, April 2007. Full survey and results available at www.abstinenceassociation.org)