1. Family Life Education:
Which Road to Take?
© 2002 International Educational Foundation
IEF is responsible for the content of this presentation only
if it has not been altered from the original. © IEF 1

2. Social Response —
Family Life Education
© IEF 2

3. Two Models of
Family Life Education
 Character- Contraceptive-
based based
© IEF 3

4. Sexual Norm for
Adolescents
Character– Contraceptive–
Based Based
No sexual Sexual relations
relations until by mutual
marriage consent
 Use
protection
© IEF 4

5. Appeal
Character– Contraceptive–
Based Based
Character– Expedient
building  Tolerates
 Supports diverse values
parents’
values
© IEF 5

6. Educators and Guidance
Character– Contraceptive–
Based Based
Morally Non–directive
directive  Teenage
 Youth sexual activity
receptive inevitable
to abstinence
© IEF 6

7. Contraceptives
Character– Contraceptive–
Based Based
Not promoted Promoted
 Undermines  Effective
abstinence protection
© IEF 7

8. Meaning of Sexual
Abstinence
Character– Contraceptive–
Based Based
No genital Sexual relations
activity short of
intercourse
© IEF 8

9. Educators’ Role Towards
Parents
Character– Contraceptive–
Based Based
Supports Support youth
parental privacy
authority
© IEF 9

10. Contraceptive–Based
Education— Dubious
Effectiveness
 Minimal improvements
based on small samples
 50% of studies show no
impact
S o u r c e : A. Gr u e n h e i t, Impact of HIV
and Sexual Health Education,
UNAIDS, 1997
© IEF 10

11. High Condom Failure Rate
Against Pregnancy
13-27% failure rate
for adolescent
S ourc e : J one s &
F o r e s t, Family
Planning
Perspectives,
Jan/ Feb 1992
© IEF 11

12. Risk of Pregnancy vs.
Risk of Venereal Disease
Pregnancy Disease Risk
Risk  Both woman
 Woman only and man
 365 days a
 60 days per
year
year
 Death
 Unwanted
possible
birth © IEF 12

13. Condom Ineffective in
Preventing HIV
23% spouses of A patients
IDS
becam e infected
 Despite consistent condom use
S o u r c e : M. D. C. Gu i m a r a e s , e t a l . ,
American Journal of Epidemiology, v. © IEF 13
142, 1995

14. Do Sex Educators
Themselves Trust
Condoms?
“I asked [800 sex educator if they
s]
knewthata per car ied the [HIV]
son r
vir woul they have sex, depending
us, d
on a condom forpr otection? No one
raised theirhand.”
S o u r c e : Dr . Th e r e s a Cr e n s h a w, pa s t pr e s i d e n t o f
th e Am e r i c a n S o c i e ty o f S e x Ed u c a to r s a n d
Th e r a pi s ts , a n d m e m b e r o f th e P r e s i d e n ti a l
AIDS Co m m i s s i o n
© IEF 14

15. Condom Promotion Gives
False Sense of Security
Removes youth natural
reservations about
premarital sex
Fear of Fear of Worry about
AIDS and Pregnancy Parents’
STDs Disapproval
Sour Louis Har is, A erican Teens Speak, 1 986
ce: r m
© IEF 15

16. Prevention Addresses
Risky Behavior
Cause
Teenage
Teenage
Teenage
Premarital
Premarital
Premarital
Sex
Sex
Sex
Teenage Teenage
Pregnancy Sexual
Diseases
Effect © IEF 16

17. Contraceptive–Based Education
Linked to Increased Sexual
Activity
 50% increase among 14-
year-olds
S ource : De b o r a h An n Da ws o n , ‘ Effects of
Sex Education on Adolescent Behavior, ”
Family Planning Perspectives, Jul/ Aug 1986
 Greater probability among
girls
aged 15-17 © IEF 17

18. Character–Based
Education Focuses on
Reducing the Cause
Teenage
Teenage
Teenage
Premarital
Premarital
Premarital
Sex
Sex
Sex
Teenage Teenage
Pregnancy Sexual
Diseases
© IEF 18

19. Public Health Benefits of
Character–Based Sex
Education
Abstinence Education
Reduction in Sexual
Activity
Reduction in Teenage
Pregnancies & Sexual
Diseases © IEF 19

20. Help Parents
Protect Their Children
Regulate exposure
to media
Discipline effectively
Encourage
schoolwork
© IEF 20

21. Contraceptive–Based
Education Lacks Guidance
 Attempts to be value-neutral
 Allows students to set their own
standards
© IEF 21

22. Abstinence Demands
Knowledge and Skills
Character-based education
provides support needed to
achieve the healthy norm
© IEF 22

23. Character–Based
Education Supports the
Majority of Youth
 Majority of
American
teenagers are
virgins
 Many non–virgins
want support to
postpone
sexual activity © IEF 23

24. Contraceptive Instruction
and Pro-Abstinence
Message Do Not Mix
No “ Safer”
Premarital Premarital
Sex Sex
Abstinence
Standard Lost
© IEF 24

25. Balanced Condom Policy
 Promote marriage as the
only safe context for sex
 Publicize limitations of
condoms
 Target high–risk adults
for condom promotion
© IEF 25

26. Factors Linked to
Preventing Sexual Activity
 Self-motivation
 Academic ambition
 Parental supervision
 Abstinent friends
 No substance abuse
S o u r c e : La wr e n c e E. Ka y, MD,
“ Adolescent Sexual Intercourse, ”
Postgraduate Medicine, June,
1995 © IEF 26