Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
New York Times - August 22, 2007
Nicholas Bakalar
Most of the programs were based in schools and directed at children in grades 5 through 8. One was intended for adults age 18 to 21. There were various control groups, including some in modified programs and in some cases in no program at all. Compared with those control groups, abstinence programs had no significant effect in either decreasing or increasing sexual risk behavior.
Seven of the trials tracked sexually transmitted infections, finding no significant short- or long-term benefit to abstinence programs. None of the programs made any significant difference in preventing pregnancy, reducing unprotected sex or delaying sexual initiation.
"We hope our review encourages a closer look at the empirical research regarding HIV prevention programs," said Kristen Underhill, the lead author and a research officer at the University of Oxford.
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