Why is the US supporting abstinence only programs that fail to cut HIV risks? & fails to increase abstinence?

Question

The UPI reported that a new research study found that "Abstinence programs fail to cut HIV risk":
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Health/2007/08/03/abstinence_programs_fail_to_cut_hiv_risk/1220/

Programs that exclusively encourage abstinence from sex do not seem to affect the risk of HIV infection in high-income countries, finds a British review. University of Oxford researchers reviewed 13 trials involving more than 15,000 U.S. youths to assess the effects of abstinence-only programs by measuring self-reported biological & behavioral outcomes such as sexually transmitted infection, pregnancy, frequency of unprotected sex, number of partners and sexual initiation

The results suggest that abstinence-only programs did not increase primary abstinence or secondary abstinence -- decreased incidence & frequency of recent sex, the researchers say. Currently 33 percent of the HIV prevention funds from the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief are used for abstinence-only programs

Guess who's supporting these programs now?

UPI report: Abstinence-only programs prove tenacious:

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. Democrats are squabbling over the future of federally funded programs that encourage teens to abstain from sex until marriage.

The abstinence-only programs, long supported by Republicans, are surviving attempts to shut them down in the Democratically controlled Congress, the Los Angeles Times reported:
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Health/2007/10/14/abstinenceonly_programs_prove_tenacious/8307/

Democrats long have used the abstinence-only issue to claim the Bush administration put ideology and politics ahead of science-guess who's doing it now?

Answer 1

Excellent question. I was just reading something similar in a NY times article on abortion. The article reads:
"The Bush administration’s multibillion-dollar campaign against H.I.V./AIDS in Africa has directed money to programs that promote abstinence before marriage, and to condoms only as a last resort. It has prohibited the use of American money to support overseas family planning groups that provide abortions or promote abortion as a method of family planning."

Apparently the people in charge feel that abstinence only programs are going to discourage people from having sex when it clearly does not. Its much easier to convince someone to practice safe sex than no-sex. There is no indication or study that I am aware of that shows that abstinence only programs are effective in preventing the spread of HIV. Supporting these programs is irresponsible and makes no sense from a public health standpoint.

Answer 2

Hmm let's see maybe because the people in charge have ZERO clue!!! Telling a teenage not to have sex is like telling a 2 year old not to put something in their mouth!!! They will continue to have sex and there is nothing that anyone can do to stop it!!! So what needs to be done is educated them on protecting themselves but this will not fly because the dumb asses in charge will say that would be condoning sex. LOL My question is how do these idiots get in these positions? I laugh all the time because they really don't know what is going on and then they actually think they can fix it! It is a joke! There are a lot of other issues that need to be worked on along with this but as long as the rocket scientist are in control there will never be any progress!

Answer 3

i think sex education should be taught .if a family has a problem with it due to religious beleifs they should feel free to opt out .

I dont think teaching abstance is bad . i think teaching abstinace only is bad . I think we should be teaching the use of condoms , birth control pills and anything that might be helpful to mitigate risks with sex . Anything less is terrible and wrong.

There should be a special section for males to understand there responsibilties if he gets a girl pregnant . That way he can make the right decisions whether to sleep with her or not , what type of birth control he will use or to trust her when she says , "im on the pill"

There should be a special section for the girls talking about trapping men into fatherhood is wrong and that it is no bed of roses .

By combining absitinance , condom and other forms of birth control with separate special education for men and women a lot of these issues can be addressed properly.

Answer 4

The "abstinence only" camp is primarily Christians who dominate the influence in the Republican Party. Yes, we all know that. But what you also need to know is that they are in turn dominated by an ideology of faith. And for them to renunciate their position on abstinence, would be tantamount to them renouncing their faith. So there won't be a change in our government's treatment of sexuality, until there is a change in the ideology that dominates it.

This is a condition that will not change through reason or evidence, since both will only be interpreted as a greater need for greater faith.

Shingoshi Dao

Answer 5

during the reagan years neocon activists successfully motivated the traditionally politically apathetic religious right to roll out in droves to support conservative agendas.

the religious right has strong ideas and strong agendas that don't need to be evidence-based, because they are divinely inspired.

republicans won't cross the religious right:- over the last thirty years the religious vote has made the republicans the natural party of government in the us.

democrats also aren't very happy about crossing the religious right:- the religious right is now so strong a force in american politics that it can keep any party it disapproves of blocked almost indefinitely.

the blockade on sensible american policies will continue until there is some scientific / socially responsible / evidence-based political lobby which can show itself as powerful as the religious right has been this last thirty years.

don't hold your breath.

Answer 6

"Just say no to drugs" didn't work either.

We have to seriously consider the level of emotional and psychological development of the audience we are trying to reach. If it's teens, good luck with a "just say no" approach! Teens are by nature rebellious- some of them will do things specifically BECAUSE they've been told not to..lol! Fear tactics do not work unless they are firmly based in a reality that is visible regardless of the publicity the issue is getting. Also, telling people to abstain from something as instinctual as sex is like telling people not to eat. It's not going to happen! Also, when it comes to HIV infection, what is truly being ignored (to the detriment of society) is the fact that the number one cause of rising cases of HIV infection are due to drugs: dirty needles, and this is infecting heterosexuals (and the people they then in turn sleep with) at alarming rates. We need more needle exchange programs. We need wider availability of condoms (at no cost) and education geared toward getting people to use them in conjunction with other forms of birth control. It's not about advocating or abstaining from drug use or sex, it's about public health and safety. People are going to do these things regardless, and it is not only in their best interest to protect themselves, it's in our best interest as well.

Answer 7

Simple. They don't work , have never worked and in the future will fail as well. Teenagers believe they are immortal and it "will never happen to them". Hormones exert more pressure than parental warnings. Teenagers figure we are old fashioned and sex wasn't what it is today. I have heard all the stories when counseling teens on safe sex.
It is irresponsible to tout these measure. The ironic part is they want to take away abortion rights as well. Almost like punishing teenagers for not being virtuous enough.

Answer 8

Because the fundies are trying to take over the country by pushing their crap down other peoples throats, and the nitwit politicians are going along with it.

Answer 9

I'll say it till I'm blue in the face and it won't make a hill of beans of a difference, but it's this "god" damn christian agenda. to shove their misogynistic, xenophobic, bigoted, ignorant religion down our throats. No matter how many times they say that the US is a democracy and they want to keep it that way, they still want to make this country into a theocracy.

Answer 10

The squabbling will stop when the Republicans are finally kicked out of the White House. Believe me, not everyone in this country is that dumb.