In response to the article in today's newspaper, "Group studying sex-ed options," I submit the following, just how safe is "protected" sex?

Our state has had an "abstinence-only" policy but that is a very different thing from Abstinence Curriculum! On one occasion a teacher in our area said to me, "My school's definition of abstinence education is to abstain from mentioning sex." Another teacher described the abstinence message as a "side-bar" in the Life Skills class. The reality of our classrooms is that each school has general guidelines but there is no Authentic Abstinence Curriculum. Yes, there needs to be a change but a change from our abstinence policy is not what is needed. A change to authentic abstinence curriculum beginning in 6 th grade throughout high school is.

Heritage Foundation (a research organization out of Washington) has done an in-depth comparison of Authentic Abstinence Based Curriculum -vs- Comprehensive Sex Education (or Abstinence Plus). On pg. VII of this document (available upon request by calling 871-2211) they state, "The most fundamental difference in abstinence messages between the two types of curricula is that authentic abstinence courses express teen abstinence as a clear standard or goal and encourages all students to strive to meet that standard." In other words refusal skills, why abstinence is best, healthy ability to make good choices, factual, medically accurate information on STD's, etc., all aiming toward the healthy choice of abstinence. On average authentic abstinence curricula spends 53.7% (pg. 13) promoting abstinence.

On the other hand Comprehensive Sex Ed (or Abstinence Plus) Curriculum spends an average of 4.2% (pg. 18) of their curriculum to promoting abstinence. In one curriculum being considered by St. Lucie County "Reducing The Risk" is the following: "Remind students that there are two ways to avoid pregnancy and HIV infection: say no to sex or use protection." ( Reducing the Risk, pg.95). That is a mixed message that makes "protection" on equal ground with abstinence rather than elevating it as the healthiest choice.

So, lets see how safe that "protection" really is. There are conservatively about 10 things to remember to use a condom consistently and correctly. According to any and all documentation on the subject, condoms must be used consistently and correctly every single time to afford protection. So, beginning with the assumption that our children, who forget to do their homework, still will remember to use every step, how much protection will they have with condoms? In the book "Epidemic, How Teen Sex is Killing our Kids," pediatrician Meg Meeker states the following, " When used 100% of the time, condoms can reduce the risk of sexually transmitted HIV infection in both sexes and the risk of gonorrhea in men by about 87%, ...And remember, 87% risk reduction represents the very best possible scenario. That means that if a condom is used every time a person has intercourse, and is used correctly all of the time, then there is an 87% chance that she won't get HIV or gonorrhea. Now, if this were your teen putting on a condom, would 87% be good enough? He still has a 13% chance that he will get HIV or gonorrhea, odds are a little worse than one in ten. That doesn't sound like 'protection' or 'safe sex' to me." (pg. 106)

In a study done by the National Institutes for Sexual Health on condom effectiveness, Chlamydia (the number one bacterial STD) and Syphilis were found to be prevented 50% of the time with consistent and correct condom use, in Human Papilloma Disease (the leading viral STD which can cause cervical cancer) condoms were found to provide little or no protection. http://www.niaid.nih.gov/dmid/stds/condomreport.pdf. One in five Americans age 12 and older are infected with the incurable genital herpes. At the 2002 National STD Prevention Conference the risk reduction with condoms use, in the case of herpes was stated to be approximately 40%.

So why this myth of "protection" when is comes to our children?

We are not passing out or instructing them if they smoke to use a filter we are giving them as many reasons as possible to choose not to smoke. The same rules should apply with sexuality. In the context of marriage, sex is awesome and safe when both couples live by the rules. In a study called Sex in America it was discovered that very few individuals in intact marriages have intercourse with any other than their marriage partner. Therefore, marriage is the environment where sexually active individuals are least likely to be exposed to STDS. That healthy choice needs to be reinforced in as many ways as possible.

In a study by Zogby and outlined in the Heritage Foundation report, parents reported hands down that what they wanted most for their students to know thoroughly was the abstinence message. And why not, it is the only 100% effective means of preventing STD's or pregnancy among our children.

There are authentic abstinence curricula being taught in St. Lucie County in a few schools that have sought them out. One such curricula can be found through the Abstinence Program called Project Elevate 2Wait. I know about this program because it is done through Care Net of which I am the Executive Director. We have received a Department of Heath Grant to take this curriculum into our schools. The response of the students and teachers has been heartening. The curriculum we use has been successful in reducing the teen pregnancy rate in GAsignificantly. Authentic Abstinence Curricula in our area schools is the message of protection that our students need.

Sue Chess

Executive Director

Care Net

Port St. Lucie, FL

871-2211