Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
9-1-2017
Journal
The Journal of Adolescent Health : Official Publication of The Society for Adolescent Medicine
Volume
61
Issue
3
Inclusive Pages
273-280
DOI
10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.05.031
Abstract
Adolescence is marked by the emergence of human sexuality, sexual identity, and the initiation of intimate relations; within this context, abstinence from sexual intercourse can be a healthy choice. However, programs that promote abstinence-only-until-marriage (AOUM) or sexual risk avoidance are scientifically and ethically problematic and—as such—have been widely rejected by medical and public health professionals. Although abstinence is theoretically effective, in actual practice, intentions to abstain from sexual activity often fail. Given a rising age at first marriage around the world, a rapidly declining percentage of young people remain abstinent until marriage. Promotion of AOUM policies by the U.S. government has undermined sexuality education in the United States and in U.S. foreign aid programs; funding for AOUM continues in the United States. The weight of scientific evidence finds that AOUM programs are not effective in delaying initiation of sexual intercourse or changing other sexual risk behaviors. AOUM programs, as defined by U.S. federal funding requirements, inherently withhold information about human sexuality and may provide medically inaccurate and stigmatizing information. Thus, AOUM programs threaten fundamental human rights to health, information, and life. Young people need access to accurate and comprehensive sexual health information to protect their health and lives.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
APA Citation
Santelli, J., Kantor, L., Grilo, S., Speizer, I., Lindberg, L., Heitel, J., Schalet, A., Lyon, M., Mason-Jones, A., McGovern, T., Heck, C., Rogers, J., & Ott, M. (2017). Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage: An Updated Review of U.S. Policies and Programs and Their Impact.. The Journal of Adolescent Health : Official Publication of The Society for Adolescent Medicine, 61 (3). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.05.031
Peer Reviewed
1
Open Access
1
Comments
Reproduced with permission of Elsevier. Journal of Adolescent Health