Evaluations and Research on Abstinence-Only Programs

The Alliance believes that abstinence-only sexuality education programs are not effective. Evaluation of abstinence-only programs thus far has been inconclusive. This is due, in part, to the very limited number of high-quality evaluations of these programs and because the few studies that have been completed do not reflect the great diversity of abstinence-only programs currently offered.

To date, there have been three helpful studies evaluating abstinence-only-until-marriage programs:

• The Minnesota Department of Public Health recently evaluated Minnesota’s abstinence-only sex education program, "Education Now and Babies Later (ENBL)," and found that it is not effective in preventing or delaying teenage sexual activity. See www.saynotyet.com/report.htm for report.
• A study of Pennsylvania’s abstinence education program drew the same conclusion. For more information, contact the Pennsylvania Coalition to Prevent Teen Pregnancy at 717.236.3366.
• In the late 1990s the federal government hired Mathematica Policy Research Inc. to evaluate abstinence education programs funded by Title V, Section 510. For more information see www.mathematica-mpr.com/welfare/abstinence.asp.

Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy
105 Chauncy Street, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02111
617.482.9122 Main, 617.482.9129 Fax