Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage: An Updated Review of U.S. Policies and Programs and Their Impact.

Adolescence is marked by the emergence of human sexuality, sexual identity, and the initiation of intimate relations; within this context, abstinence from sexual intercourse can be a healthy choice. However, programs that promote abstinence-only-until-marriage (AOUM) or sexual risk avoidance are scientifically and ethically problematic and-as such-have been widely rejected by medical and public health professionals. Although abstinence is theoretically effective, in actual practice, intentions to abstain from sexual activity often fail.

Invited commentary: broadening the evidence for adolescent sexual and reproductive health and education in the United States.

Scientific research has made major contributions to adolescent health by providing insights into factors that influence it and by defining ways to improve it. However, US adolescent sexual and reproductive health policies-particularly sexuality health education policies and programs-have not benefited from the full scope of scientific understanding. From 1998 to 2009, federal funding for sexuality education focused almost exclusively on ineffective and scientifically inaccurate abstinence-only-until-marriage (AOUM) programs.

Abstinence and teenagers: prevention counseling practices of health care providers serving high-risk patients in the United States.

Context: Abstinence-only education has had little demonstrable impact on teenagers' sexual behaviors, despite significant policy and funding efforts. Given the struggle over resources to improve teenagers' reproductive health outcomes, the views of clinicians serving teenagers at high risk for unintended pregnancy and STDs merit particular attention.

Methods: In 2005, a qualitative study with 31 clinicians serving low-income, at-risk patients was conducted.

"I wouldn't be this firm if I didn't care": preventive clinical counseling for reproductive health.

Objective: This qualitative study of health care clinicians serving women at heightened risk of sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancy was undertaken to explore concepts underlying reproductive health counseling messages in clinical encounters.

Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 31 clinicians, including physicians and advanced practice nurses serving primarily low-income patients in high-risk communities throughout the U.S.