June 2, 2001, 7:14PM

Sex education made impact, study finds

Abstinence, birth control advice taken

By JO ANN ZUIGA Copyright 2001 Houston Chronicle

A new study has found that sex education programs, including one in Houston, delayed teen-age sex for up to 31 months, improved contraceptive use and prevented teen pregnancies.

The nonprofit, nonpartisan National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy also found that programs like Houston's Brighter Futures, sponsored by Planned Parenthood, helped teens with health care and school tutoring.

"This study could change how people will look at sex education programs with data that shows they work," said Yolanda Alvarado, director of Brighter Futures.

For the past three years, the Brighter Futures program has taken 50 at-risk students, mostly Hispanic, starting at age 13, and offered them after-school activities through high school.

The program also focuses on educational and emotional support for students by helping with homework, offering career counseling and starting entrepreneurial projects through which the teens earn their own money.

Houston's program is one of 12 based on the New York program called the Children's Aid Society-Carrera Program started by Dr. Michael Carrera, which the study specifically praised but called expensive at $4,000 per child.

"A very rigorous study of the comprehensive Children's Aid Society-Carrera Program has demonstrated that, among girls, it significantly delayed the onset of sex, increased the use of condoms and other effective methods of contraception and reduced pregnancy and birth rates," the study stated.

The author of the report, researcher Douglas Kirby, who is a member of the National Campaign's board of directors, said important findings showed that education about sex and HIV/AIDS does not hasten sexual activity.

He also said education about abstinence and contraception are compatible and not in conflict with each other.

Kirby also listed reasons to increase prevention efforts. Despite the declining rates of teen pregnancies, more than four in 10 teen girls still get pregnant at least once before age 20, which translates into nearly 900,000 teen pregnancies per year.

Although sexual activity among teens is leveling off, two-thirds of all students have sex before graduating from high school, exposing themselves to pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

The study also points out a curriculum-based program called Safer Choices, a program the Houston Independent School District uses, as successful in educating students, said Meryl Cohen, Planned Parenthood of Houston's vice president for education and counseling.

The 10-session, abstinence-focused program includes information on contraceptives for those who choose not to abstain, she said.

"It is an abstinence-plus program rather than just an abstinence-only program," Cohen said.

Alvarado of Brighter Futures said the program will begin anew next fall with 11- and 12-year-olds if funding and contributions allow.

"The younger they are, the easier they follow structure and guidance. Also, they are developing and reaching puberty a lot sooner now," Alvarado said.

The study cites eight programs as having strong evidence of success. Five are sex education programs, two are service-learning programs that combine community service with group discussion and reflection, and the local intensive program that combines sex education, comprehensive health care and activities such as tutoring and field trips.

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2001