The findings and conclusions in these presentations have not been formally disseminated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy.

Northwest 5
Tuesday, March 11, 2008: 3:00 PM-4:45 PM

B4: New Directions in Adolescent Sexual Health and Education

Organizer:Bruce Trigg
Moderator:Bruce Trigg
 
Summary: Background/Purpose:

Over the past 25 years more than $1.5 billion has been spent on federally funded abstinence-only-until-marriage-programs (AOUM) in the US. While there is broad consensus that delaying sexual debut and encouraging abstinence during adolescence are worthwhile public health goals, the content and restrictions of AOUM programs are controversial.

Objectives of Symposium:

Speakers will review recent studies on the effectiveness of AOUM programs and their impact on STD control. Alternative sociological and public health perspectives for addressing adolescent sexuality will be presented.

Implications for Programs, Policy, and/or Research:

The Congress and state governments are re-examining sex education in the schools. Public health professionals can contribute their perspectives to these discussions.

 
3:00 PMWhat Have We Learned from 25 Years of Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage (AOUM) Programs and their Impact on Public Health Efforts to Control STDs and HIV?
Bruce Trigg
3:20 PMState Efforts to Ensure Medical Accuracy in Sex Education Programs
John Santelli
3:40 PMA New Paradigm for Adolescent Sexual Health: Beyond Abstinence and Risk
Amy Schalet

The 2008 National STD Prevention Conference of CDC