Study shows parents need to go Beyond the “Big Talk”
Frequent discussions about sex help teens make healthy choices and avoid STDs
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (March 17, 2008) – A new study released by The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) found that teens who have frequent conversations with their parents about sex feel better connected with their parents and are more comfortable and open discussing the issue than teens who have fewer conversations with their parents about sex.
”Teens who feel connected to their parents are more likely to have their first sexual experience later in life, are likely to have fewer sexual partners and are less likely to get an STD,” said Lesley Scearce, Executive Director of Why Know Abstinence Education. “This news is very encouraging, especially in light of the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) recent report that one in four teenage girls has an STD.”
The CDC reports that more than 3 million teenage girls, aged 14-19, has at least one STD. The most common being the human papillomavirous (HPV), which has been found to cause cervical cancer. The Federal Drug Administration has stated the protection condoms provide against HPV is “partial at best.”
“The staggering number of teen girls who have an STD is yet another reason to choose a risk avoidance strategy instead of a risk reduction strategy,” said Scearce. “Our kids deserve the most accurate and complete information when it comes to the decision to have sex. They need to know that condoms will not fully protect them from the physical consequences of sex. It’s up to programs, parents and the community to make sure teens understand the risk and are equipped to avoid it.”
In addition to working directly with students, Why Know is committed to providing parents with the resources needed to support teens in choosing to remain abstinent from sexual activity. For more information about talking to teens about sex or for a free parenting guide, visit Why Know’s Web site at whyknow.org or call 423-899-9188.
About Why Know:
Why KnowAbstinence Education, Inc. is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Why Knowworksto equip teens to be sexually abstinent by giving in-depth knowledge, ongoing support and life skills for a successful future. Why Know serves 57 schools in Hamilton, Catoosa, Dade, Gordon, Walker and Whitfield Counties. Its curriculum is used in 40 states and 11 countries. Since Why Know’s inception, the local teen pregnancy rate has decreased 72%. For more information about Why Know, visit www.whyknow.org or call 423.899.9188.
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Sources include: The American Academy of Pediatrics, The Center for Disease Control, The Federal Drug Administration and The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
