Friday, April 13, 2012

Abstinence only education doesn't work. Yet another scientific study reinforces what should be obvious to most thinking Americans.

Courtesy of Think Progress:

The number of teen births in the U.S. dropped again in 2010, according to a government report, with nearly every state seeing a decrease. Nationally, the rate fell 9 percent to about 34 per 1,000 girls ages 15 through 19, and the drop was seen among all racial and ethnic groups. Mississippi continues to have the highest teen birth rate, with 55 births per 1,000 girls. New Hampshire has the lowest rate at just under 16 births per 1,000 girls. 

This is the lowest national rate for teen births since the Centers for Disease Control began tracking it in 1940, and CDC officials attributed the decline to pregnancy prevention efforts. Other reports show that teenagers are having less sex and using contraception more often. Studies have backed this up. Researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle found that teenagers who received some type of comprehensive sex education were 60 percent less likely to get pregnant or get someone else pregnant. And in 2007, a federal report showed that abstinence-only programs had “no impacts on rates of sexual abstinence.” 

But 37 states require sex education that includes abstinence, 26 of which require that abstinence be stressed as the best method. Additionally, research shows that abstinence-only strategies could deter contraceptive use among teenagers, thus increasing their risk of unintended pregnancy. 

For example, take the states with the highest and lowest teen pregnancy rates. Mississippi does not require sex education in schools, but when it is taught, abstinence-only education is the state standard. New Mexico, which has the second highest teen birth rate, does not require sex ed and has no requirements on what should be included when it is taught. New Hampshire, on the other hand, requires comprehensive sex education in schools that includes abstinence and information about condoms and contraception. 

Personally I think these scientists could have saved a lot of time just by taking a road trip to Wasilla, stepping out of their cars to look around, and then realizing "Oh yeah, this is not working at all!"

Same thing could have been achieved just by visiting the Palin compound also don'tcha know?

Teenagers have been having premarital sex for as long as their have been teenagers in the world.

Hell I myself am the product of a teen pregnancy. This is certainly nothing new in the world.

But like the study indicates, helping young hormonal teenagers do what they are going to do anyhow only safely, will ensure that we have far fewer cases of kids having kids. And ultimately THAT should be the goal of every parent and educator in this country.

Or is that too logical?

74 comments:

  1. WakeUpAmerica4:10 AM

    "Hell I myself am the product of a teen pregnancy. "
    And how well has that worked out? LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In my opinion, and feel free to ascribe whatever worth to it that you want, I'd have to say that it has worked out quite well.

      Gryph's no saint, but then again, he doesn't hold himself out to be one, and who amongst us is? What he unquestionably is, though, is a person of high moral standards with a soft touch. He seeks to help everyone he encounters, and that has even included the Palins, whose sound advice they continue to ignore (at their own peril).

      Time and time again Gryphen has proven he has an affinity for honesty. How can you not like and prefer to deal with someone like that?

      If you want to make feeble attempts to attack Gryphen's character and motivation, you're going to have to come up with something better than the fact that he cares too much about making the world a better place for the rest of us.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous9:55 AM

      Obviously better than your upbringing, WakeUp.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous12:08 PM

      It has worked out better than the HILLBILLY ABSTINENCE KLAN OF WASILLA with UNWED SARAH'S FIRST BORN, 3 FOR BRISTOL, AND 1 AND COUNTING FOR Willow. If Gryphen is so repulsive to you, why are you here, GRIFTER?

      Delete
    4. Anonymous4:33 PM

      Really, wake up?

      You surprise me,

      And not pleasantly.

      What's wrong with G?

      He's not celebrating the fact of his teen mom (Brisdull),

      So what is the judgement about?

      Delete
    5. Anita Winecooler6:30 PM

      Not to pile on, but I expected better from a regular participant on his site. Did any of us have any say in the circumstances of our own conception and birth?

      So Gryphen shared something to make a point, and he's laughed at, Really?

      Delete
  2. Anonymous4:22 AM

    Ugh... get a job Bristol. Seriously. We the US taxpayers are SICK of supporting your lazy unproductive lifestyle. I don't think anyone agrees that you deserve our tax money while you post anonymous blog comments and neglect your children. GET. A. JOB.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:18 AM

      post anonymous blog comments...

      THAT IS HER JOB. Living at parents, getting house near parents re-done by production staff (tax breaks from filming in Ak). No wonder she clings to Mommie Dearest.

      She is getting ready to come out of hiding soon to fight the "War on Women"

      Delete
  3. Anonymous4:30 AM

    It all starts with holding hands -- once the kids start doing that it's only a matter of time until they start K-I-S-S-I-N-G and you know what THAT leads to. Fortunately, the good people of Tennessee (State motto: We're trying to be as stupid as Texas) have taken step to curb this evil activity.
    http://www.wmctv.com/story/17353757/bill-would-define-holding-hands-kissing-as-gateway-sexual-activity

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AJ Billings5:37 AM

      I went to the link, because I did not believe that could be true. Sounds just like the Taliban or the militant government of Indonesia.

      One great commenter wrote this little gem:

      Childbirth is gate way to incest

      Delete
    2. Anonymous6:48 AM

      When was that picture of Bristol taken? Is she still trying to sell the shack up show, 'Life with Tripp" by the Lake of Death?

      I am amazed that Wasilla hasn't been scientifically studied already. Where are the sociologists? The culture is mind boggling. Those kids start young and think nothing much about the dead babies. Oh, it is sad and they can martyr, but don't get why all so many infants die. Since they do such rotten record keeping in the area it is hard to keep up with it all.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous4:34 PM

      Brisdull got pucked,

      And good!

      Delete
  4. Abstinence is like dieting. At some point, the body tells the brain to get out of the way for a while and let the body sate its urges; Bristol isn’t unique in that regard. BTW, that’s a very young picture of her.
    Calmly taking a pill each morning like medicine is easy and sensible.
    I could never understand the women who constantly badmouthed their husbands/boyfriends, and then continued to have children with them. I think I was a little rude at times.
    Logic is good.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Calli P4:51 AM

    O/T, but speaking of babies- Just hopped over to the k/clan photo at Palin Place, and I'm a-wonderin', where, oh where, is the little Trigster?
    Oh, Never mind.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:10 AM

      I think I see Trig's hair behind Chuck? Why is Sarah's head so small. Not like her sisters it appears. Is she standing back that far?

      SP has changed from the Jesus jewelry, she does read this blog. Now she is big military. For the "War on Women" ? Here comes Bristol....
      Hooah
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr4kPXdYJzw

      Hooah pin 4-12-12 - Fox and Sarah claim Obama is wrong about the "War on Women." She is talking about a "War on Women" and wearing the huge HOOAH pin.

      http://us4palin.com/gov-palin-we-will-be-silent-no-more/
      "We will be silent no more."

      Delete
    2. Anonymous7:14 AM

      Track must be so pleased she found the biggest 'HOOAH' trinket to advertise her support of the troops.

      Delete
    3. SAlly in MI7:20 AM

      "We will be silent no more." When, pray tell, has Sarah ever been silent? It would be nice if she would actually support women instead of supporting Fox and the right's war. Come on Sarah...talk to your daughters. Birth control saves lives.

      Delete
    4. Where's Trig's Birth Certificate?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous7:28 AM

      I give - WTF is Hooah?
      At first I thought it said Hooha, as in VJay (which would have appropriate).

      Delete
    6. Anonymous12:31 AM

      It's a military thing; think Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman.

      Palin is co opting the military for herself...again...still.

      She is a loathsome pig.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous5:04 AM

    The only thing EXPLOSIVE about Levi is his cumshot.

    Sunny knows....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:45 AM

      You're sick.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous7:03 AM

      And so does Bristol.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous7:54 AM

      Still miss him, don't you Brisket.

      Delete
    4. Anita Winecooler7:08 PM

      Poor Beefy!

      Delete
  7. Anonymous5:19 AM

    The US is crazy - abstinence is not sex education - abstinence education is hiding your head in the sand and saying if we don't mention it - it won't happen. It is also a simple way to blame women for the pregnancy no-one taught them how to avoid.

    It would be such a farce if it wasn't so damn true

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:56 AM

      Yeah, imagine if we did this with drivers ed? Nutrition? Don't mention Twinkies and they'll never eat them!

      Tennestoopidsee

      Delete
    2. Anonymous4:37 PM

      Exactly!

      Americans,

      Abstain from FAST FOOD because the cost to our country is too great!

      Oh, you WANT a CHOICE?

      Delete
  8. Anonymous5:31 AM

    Oh yeah? So what do researchers and scientists know about anything, anyway? Abstinence only education is obviously working very well in MS and NM. Without it they'd be having three times as many babies! Sheesh

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:15 AM

      Sheesh, Sarah, are you writing your own troll comments now? Or is someone imitating your trade mark style? Why pick MS and NM as states that are paragons of health? Seriously, let's see your research and data.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous7:21 AM

      Uhhh...I think Anon 6:31 was being sarcastic.

      Delete
  9. Sharon5:35 AM

    To be realistic about any family topic....you can't use the Palins as "normal" with any issue. They are what we call trailer trash, period.

    On another topic...I am so sick of this krap about the comment by Hilary Rosen of Ann Romney. I for one...totally agree with her. If Mitt hadn't used her as his most trusted advisor on womens issues, she would not have said it. I am a single mother of 2, and Ann never had to make a "choice" between milk and putting gas in the car, or juggling work when your kids are sick. Where is the media on this?
    Doesn't anyone really get it? The fact a woman with children actually has a choice????? Sorry, but it is a luxury to have a choice, to have someone else bringing in the paycheck so you can have that choice. How about all the divorced women like I was, with 2 babies. I made a choice alright...stay with an abusive man or get rid of him and have to work. Tell me how Ann can relate to that. One wonders how many maids and nannys and gardners they employ?
    How many sleepless nights Ann spent worrying about medical insurance, dental bills, eyeglasses..... let alone getting kids thru college. Ann lives in the same bubble the rest of the 1% does, and I for one am offended using her as an advisor for any women issues. Just look at what Mitt stands for, sure isn't for anyone that isn't a millionaire.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And let us not forget that any and all legislation that benefits women and families, like the Famliy Medical Leave act, were done by Democrats.

      Delete
    2. SAlly in MI7:14 AM

      Amen to Sharon and Karen. A woman who doesn't even think she's rich because she has never been even middle class, cannot know anything about struggles. Yes, she has MS, but Mitt was a governor and a capitalist...you can bet their barely have copays for her meds. And she has a stable of million dollar dressage horses to make her feel better. Hard for us to relate to that level of 'struggle," Ann.

      Delete
    3. Anita Winecooler7:21 PM

      I get it, and every other woman does as well, except for Ann and other 1 percenters. Don't forget Ann's intro to Mitt "Now LISTEN and OBEY" - see how that works? If they had one less child, She'd have been in Seamus's place, willingly.

      I'm sick of this whole beating a dead horse from the Republicans, and the Democrats who feel they need to distance themselves, when their track record says it all. And Romney's raising money ignoring other women's plight.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous5:43 AM

    Bristol is a loser. Sunny is a winner. You can't blame Bristol for being a jealous hater of sunny. She has the one thing bristol will never get back: Levi. Sunny > Bristol.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous6:20 AM

    Abstinence ignores some other important details. Using a condom prevents the spread of AIDS and sexually transmitted disease. Preaching abstinence, meaning no tradition male/female sex leads to other forms of sex which is usually unprotected. That leads to spread of sexually transmitted disease, AIDS, and if the father has either a drug or drinking problem, his chromosomes may be damaged resulting in serious birth defects if a child is conceived. Abstinence is ignorance.

    Bristol is following the examples of her own family, Sally Heath was pregnant before she got married, Sarah Heath Palin was pregnant before she got married. If Sarah and Todd hadn't interfered, maybe Levi and Bristol might have married or at least Tripp a chance to be part of a two parent household. Oh yeah, and Track, how did that turn out?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Swamp Rabbit8:07 AM

      "Abstinence is ignorance."

      I respectfully disagree with this statement. I agree that sex education limited to abstinence-only ignores many good studies showing that such programs are failures. However, if one is fully informed and then chooses to be abstinent, then I don't think that should be considered ignorant.

      My beautiful, talented, brilliant and compassionate daughter is 25 years old and abstinent before marriage by choice. I think this is strongly influenced by her religious beliefs, but those were neither imposed on her nor even encouraged by me.

      From the time she was very young (I remember a talk when she was in Kindergarten), we have had an open dialog about sex. When she was in middle school, I offered to provide her with condoms and show her (using a banana) how they were used. She declined the offer, but knew she could always come to me if she needed help in obtaining contraception.

      I know, at this point, that most of you are saying that you have a bridge you would like to sell me if I really think my daughter is not sexually active. But, we have such a close and open relationship and I obviously have no issue with her having premarital sex in a loving relationship, why would she lie to me? Or, you are thinking that she must be a loser, but that is far from the case given her activities (including cheerleading) and coterie of friends.
      I should also add that she graduated summa cum laude from the liberal arts honors program at a major university with a double major. She spent a semester abroad, is fluent in French, did outreach at the world’s largest garbage dump slum in Mexico City and was a medical missionary in east Africa. She is currently a first year student at a top 10 law school and will spend her summer working for the UN at an international criminal tribunal.
      I’m not saying this to brag (well, a little bit), but to help express why it frustrates me that Ms. Palin is held up as a spokesperson for abstinence when her accomplishments are so slim. She became that spokesperson as a result of not being abstinent. Aren’t young women, like my daughter, better examples of a life choice in which abstinence may contribute, in part, to their ability to be successful and reach difficult goals?

      Delete
    2. Swamp Rabbit8:23 AM

      Apologies that my copy & paste from MS Word didn't maintain my paragraph spacing. The above it tough to read. 8^(

      Delete
  12. Anonymous6:39 AM

    Sarah Palin: Hilary Rosen Comments 'Awakened Many Mama Grizzlies'

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/13/sarah-palin-hilary-rosen-_n_1423231.html?ref=politics

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:07 AM

      HOOAH!!!!!!!!!!!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous7:10 AM

      Pfft, still trying to be relevant, eh Sarah?
      Mama Grizzlies, like Tori Spelling?

      Delete
    3. SAlly in MI7:11 AM

      You mean her supporters have been hibernating all winter? Is that why her PAC money is tanking? Yeah, rile them up Sarah. All those women who will lose health care, lose their chance at a fair wage if they can get hired at all, lose contraception so they can be baby factories and stay at home moms even when Daddy can only find limited work with no benefits and the country won;t help, and their chance at an education as well, with the planned demise of public schools and universities by the KOchs. Yeah, Sarah, we really really plan to scoot right over under your leaking umbrella because a CNN commentator said something you didn't like.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous6:45 AM

    What is this picture? What is she holding? A giant Oreo™?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:14 AM

      Looks like a hockey puck, which doesn't many more sense than anything else.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous7:26 AM

      She is just letting the baby listen to a little of The Charlatans.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eO5hxmComYE&feature=related

      Delete
    3. Dinty7:28 AM

      Looks like a hockey puck

      Delete
    4. Anonymous8:40 AM

      Her diaphragm?

      Delete
    5. Anonymous4:42 PM

      She's pucked.

      Delete
    6. Anita Winecooler7:45 PM

      It's a hockey puck, to take attention away from the pregnancy belly, which takes attention away from her normal chin.

      Either that, or a substitute for an aspirin because her knees no longer met.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous6:45 AM

    I love Sunny's name! Bristol hates her because she is a happy person!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:05 AM

      "Sunny, Sunny, Sunny, Sunny" (h/t Tom Hanks Bosom Buddies)

      Delete
    2. SAlly in MI7:08 AM

      But I thought the Palins were Disney of the ice floes: always happy, supportive, loving, kind to their neighbors, giving to others, serving the downtrodden, helping out fallen women, raising special needs kids with nary a whine about how 'hard' it is, strong educated hard-workin' rill Americuns. Not so much?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous4:43 PM

      Kip!

      Delete
  15. Anonymous6:54 AM

    Is Bristles giving a subliminal message in that photo - puck me?? Or is she insinuating that the babydaddy is "someone" on the hockey team? Hard to tell with these Palin tramps.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Calli9:37 AM

      I'd say she's trying to usurp the 'hockey mom' facade. Or using a 'scent-marking' equivalent (Levi, hockey).

      Utterly ridiculous either way.

      Delete
  16. SAlly in MI7:07 AM

    Helping kids do what kids do safely also prevents abortions, but the fanatics on the right won't admit that. And this study didn't say there were fewer births because there were more abortions, because there were not. And the GOP can spin it however they want to please their rabid base, but they are waging war on women and girls. Every minute of every day. And they are too cowardly to even own up to it...there's a shock!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous7:19 AM

    Baby Bitch is just like her mother, neither one has never met a penis they didn't like.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:33 AM

      The opposite, however?

      Not true at all!

      Delete
  18. Anonymous8:01 AM

    Currently working in Mississippi (ugh) unfortunaely a large nationwide contract with 20 atores so we couldn't turn it down.
    You can't walk into a grocery store, gas station, or anywhere without seeing pregnant very young teens.
    They are currently trying to change the sex ed programs but most people WANT it to stay abstinence only. I just don't understan programs. The whole program was so mild that ALL the clergy in town that previewed the programs..catholic priests and presb, and luth, ministers ALL gave their congregations an a-okay. ALL the kids in our childrens classes took all of it ( you had the right to preview each segment and decline at that pt)
    pregnancies in my daughters class ZERO
    sons class........ZERO.
    One pregnancy happened during those HS yrs was to the one girl not allowed to take it , a Jehova witness
    Raised our children in Minnesota , and they had comprehensive sex ed that included eevrything...starting in kindergarten with "good touch, bad touch"

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous8:15 AM

    Abstinence is having much the same success rate in Uganda dealing with their AIDS problem.

    With such a high rate of AIDS and children being born with AIDS in Uganda, the United States sent help and assistance - money for clinics and treatment, and some in the form of health information, sexual awareness and promoting the use of condoms. Uganda started to experience a decrease in the AIDS rate.

    Until King George became president and decreed that if Uganda wanted to continue to receive U.S. aid, it was necessary for them to instigate "abstinence only" programs and don't talk about condoms. Uganda complied and is now experiencing the same rate of success that abstinence only programs experience here in the U.S. - it has gone up.

    As an added bonus, our American, faith-based aid and christian missionary work has also now created a strong anti-gay movement in Uganda calling for the death penalty for being homosexual - you may have heard.

    America - spreading peace in Afghanistan, democracy in Iraq and Christianity in Africa. And it's looking as though Iran may be needing some of our help soon, too.

    Why does everyone hate us for our freedoms?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous4:46 PM

      Not to mention the condomless rapes,

      Spreading AIDS.

      Delete
  20. Amy in Juneau9:28 AM

    Vows of abstinence break more easily than latex condoms.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous4:48 PM

      And you want to be my latex salesman?


      Jerry to George, Vandalay Industries!

      Delete
  21. Anonymous10:11 AM

    Humping is hard-wired into the human genome. It's as much a part of the survival of our species as eating and breathing. Abstinence, like most conservative ideologies, goes completely against what is normal and natural. Sex is a WONDERFUL thing and should be celebrated. What SHOULD be promoted is the responsible use of birth control, NOT abstinence. More love, more glove. More thrill, more pill.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous10:13 AM

    What a radiant young mom-to-be in the picture.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous4:46 PM

      What a disgusting sight to see a child pregnant

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:35 AM

      Agreed.

      Creepy, nasty, disgusting and a warning to others.

      Delete
  23. Anonymous10:47 AM

    I think more teens are using birth control, and not all those surveyed were honest. I'm sure a number of them lied and said they don't have sex........come on..........they do

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous12:55 PM

    Shailey is quitting her blog..I'd say someone got an offer they couldn't refuse. Was she using the blog and her supporters to lean on the Palin's for an "early Christmas"?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous4:50 PM

      That seems...odd.

      Especially when she has a recently published book.

      Delete
  25. Anonymous1:29 PM

    Does anyone have an accurate date for this picture?

    Was it taken in early '08?

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous1:39 PM

    I feel like I have lost a friend with Shailey closing her blog. Ii can't even find a comment button where I can wish her well.

    So, I'll do it here: Shailey you made a very positive impact on my life. You are an inspiration. I wish you well - happiness, and life free from fear and intimidation. God bless you and your children.

    Gryph, I am very happy Shailey has been able to find closure to her horrible life as Todd Palin's prostitute. But for those of us who have supported her and read her blogs, please if possible can you find out for us what Shailey's new life turn is? Is would bring closure for her fans.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Anita Winecooler6:37 PM

    I think this is a great trend, and I agree that sex education is more realistic and gets better results than "Abstinence" education. Our kids are bombarded with sexual imagery and language every day, and education is power. And no, I'm not naive and know their bodies are ready way before their brains are when it comes to curiosity and the sex drive.

    ReplyDelete

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