Articles about Sex Ed
April 23rd, 2009 • Contributed by Frances Irwin
For a number of years, advocates for reproductive health care and for the empowerment of young people have been warning about the dangers of Abstinence-Only Sexuality Education. As predicted, years after heavily funding this initiative to deny people, particularly young people, accurate information about reproductive health topics, we are beginning to see an up tick in the number of teen pregnancies, births and sexually transmitted infections. SIECUS released it’s State Profiles: A Portrait of Sexuality Education and Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs in the States for Fiscal Year 2008. It’s a fascinating and complete look at what kind of sex ed is happening and the related health outcomes.
Coincidentally, Tara Malone of the Chicago Tribune took a look at the issue in Illinois which ranks fourth in receipt of Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage funds. Her article, Sex ed: Abstinence-only programs under review, is a great read on the tough challenges that state faces. As we see increasing numbers of teen pregnancies, births, and sexually transmitted infections, more communities are discussing the sex ed programs in their communities. In my community, I know we have a curriculum for sex ed, but it’s hard to find out if it is being taught district wide. What’s happening in your community?
No Comments • Posted in: Sex Ed
April 15th, 2009 • Contributed by Dino Corvino
From The Guttmacher Institute
Low levels of contraceptive use in the Philippines result in high rates of unintended pregnancy and a broad range of negative consequences for women, their families and the national health care system. “Meeting Women’s Contraceptive Needs in the Philippines,” a new report from the Guttmacher Institute and the University of the Philippines Population Institute, documents the considerable social and financial benefits that would accrue from investing in contraceptive services to enable women to avoid unintended pregnancies.
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No Comments • Posted in: Birth Control, Policy, Sex Ed
February 26th, 2009 • Contributed by Lon Newman
Neither Do I Condemn You
A young mother visiting our Women Infants and Children’s nutrition clinic in Central Wisconsin was frightened by a male picketer as she came into our clinic a few weeks ago. Other women, sometimes our patients, sometimes our employees, have felt threatened by the “40 Days for Life” anti-birth control demonstrators leading a Lenten protest that began yesterday in front of our clinic in Central Wisconsin and in 131 other communities across the nation.
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1 Comment • Posted in: Birth Control, Emergency Contraception, Family Planning, Sex Ed
February 24th, 2009 • Contributed by Sue Kettner
[We recieved this today from The Guttmacher Institute, and wanted to make sure to pass it along.]
Publicly funded family planning programs save the U.S. billions of dollars each year though the prevention of about 1.94 million unintended pregnancies, including nearly 400,000 teenage pregnancies, in the U.S., according to a report released Tuesday by the Guttmacher Institute, the AP/Miami Herald reports. The report estimates that the unintended pregnancies prevented each year would have resulted in 810,000 abortions, 270,000 miscarriages and 860,000 unintended births. The report states that without publicly funded family planning programs, the U.S. abortion rate would be nearly two-thirds higher than the current level and nearly twice as high among low-income women.
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No Comments • Posted in: Birth Control, Family Planning, Policy, Sex Ed
February 23rd, 2009 • Contributed by Dino Corvino
[For more information contact Below The Waist for call in numbers]
The Female Condom – where the girls – AND boys – are
Please join IRMA, the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC) and the Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE) for the first IRMA global teleconference of 2009.
Get the skinny on the NEW female condom and discuss its implications for anal sex.
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No Comments • Posted in: STIs, Sex Ed
January 12th, 2009 • Contributed by Frances Irwin
I caught this article, Get over it: Talk to kids about sex, from the Miami Herald on Saturday and couldn’t help but envy Ana Veciana-Suarez for her clear message to parents about stepping up. I admit that I am not yet a parent, but I wish my parents could have gotten over their hurdle to talk about it in more than vague terms of responsibility. For those parents out there who need help, check out www.advocatesforyouth.org, www.avert.org or just call your local family planning clinic.
No Comments • Posted in: Sex Ed
December 30th, 2008 • Contributed by Lon Newman
As the fable goes, an eagle is brought to earth by an arrow fletched with his own feathers.
Listening to the spokesperson for Pro-Life Wisconsin as he defended the new ‘right of conscience’ regulations on Wisconsin Public Radio last week reminded me of the wisdom of the tale.
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1 Comment • Posted in: Abortion, Abstinence, Action, Birth Control, Emergency Contraception, Policy, Sex Ed
November 24th, 2008 • Contributed by Dino Corvino
[From The Guttmacher Insitutute]
As the global community marks World AIDS Day on December 1, advocates and policy experts welcome the promise by the incoming Obama administration to put sound scientific evidence at the forefront of the U.S. global AIDS program (PEPFAR). President-elect Obama’s campaign Web site states that the “first priority is…to ensure that best practices—not ideology—… drive funding for HIV/AIDS programs.” And indeed, both the new administration and the incoming Congress will have opportunities next year to do just that.
In August 2008, the U.S. government reauthorized the PEPFAR program, committing $39 billion over five years to the global fight against HIV. The new PEPFAR law features many improvements over the law that guided the program’s first five years; however, it, too, falls short in terms of HIV prevention policy.
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No Comments • Posted in: Action, Policy, STIs, Sex Ed
October 23rd, 2008 • Contributed by Sue Kettner
Today I read an article on RH Reality Check by Patricia Harmon, Nurse-Midwife. While protecting the names of her patients, she told the stories of women with unexpected pregnancies who are facing hard choices. To read the article, go to:
http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2008/10/15/unexpected-pregnancies-and-hard-choices
At the time I read the article, there were 7 comments posted. I found the comments especially interesting also.
The comments were from:
Maryisa
Colleen
Michelle
E.S.
Deb
Alexis Zepeda
1 Comment • Posted in: Sex Ed
September 16th, 2008 • Contributed by Dino Corvino
[Editors Note: From time to time we receive email updates from organiztions. This one comes to us from the Guttmacher Institute. We thought it was significant in scope, and wanted to pass it along in its entirety.]
Special Journal Issue Examines Broad Range of Problems
Associated with Abstinence-Only Education
Most abstinence-only programs of the type that have received $1.5 billion in federal funding do not help teens delay initiation of sex, and there is no scientific evidence to warrant their widespread use, according to a major new review of sexuality education program evaluations by Douglas B. Kirby. In contrast, many comprehensive sex education programs, which emphasize both abstinence and the use of protection for those who do have sex, were found to have a positive impact and should be replicated more widely. The study concludes that a comprehensive approach to sex education is effective and does not send a confusing message to young people.
The new review is part of a series of articles that identify major flaws in abstinence-only education, including problems with accuracy, effectiveness and ethics, all publish
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No Comments • Posted in: Abstinence, Sex Ed
