A leading group of pediatricians from the American Association of Pediatrics just released a report arguing that evidence from numerous studies demonstrates that abstinence-only sex education for teens is not the best way to prevent unintended pregnancies. The group recommends instead that in addition to encouraging teen to put off having sex, sex education programs should educate them about their birth control (including emergency contraception) and safe sex options. According to Dr. S. Paige Hertweck, one of the report's advisors, not educating teens about these latter options increases the likelihood that once they become sexually active, they will have unsafe sex and contract STDs.
Although popular and heavily promoted by the Bush administration and other conservative groups, abstinence-only sex education programs are highly problematic. You can read about these programs' other problems in my post about the Bush Administration's efforts to promote abstinence-only approaches to HIV/AIDS prevention in the U.S. and Africa.
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