How comprehensive and abstinent only sex education differ and how Research Paper

How comprehensive and abstinent only sex education differ and how comprehensive is more informative and can help decrease the te - Research Paper Example However, differences on how to approach this subject have also emerged as a result as one group argues for the more traditional promotion of abstinence before marriage while the other advocates for a more direct approach of teaching where the youth are educated on all aspects concerning sex including protection against pregnancies and sexual transmitted diseases (Cook & Clarke 228). Though the more orthodox promoters of sex education are worried that too much information at an early age may not be the wisest decision, the question remains what withholding information on topics such as safe sex will have on the youth as overall as studies have shown that more and more teenagers are engaging in sexual activities and thus if this trend cannot be stopped would it not be better to ensure that they are taking the needed precautions to protect them from unplanned pregnancies and contraction of STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections). Statistics have shown that the average age that individual s are losing their pregnancy is between 14 – 16 years of age which means that sex education will need to be introduced at an early age if it is to have the desired effect. This statistic is alarming considering that in the earlier years, studies conducted had shown that the average age at which virginity was lost was between 16 -18 years. This shows that a decrease of two years has taken place between the times these two studies were conducted; there is also fear that the age may continue decreasing which is a disturbing thought (Ott & Santelli 425). Abstinence only programs involve sex education with regard to its avoidance until one reaches the age of maturity (18-21 years) or preferably until one is married. This program focuses on encouraging the youth to shun any form of sexual interaction and teach on the dangers of unprotected sex such as unplanned pregnancies and incurable STIs in a bid to scare the youth straight so to speak. They do not offer any alternatives on how one is able to practice safe sex if they do decide to engage in such activities and mostly paint a scary picture on the consequences of having sex at an early age. The program has mostly been promoted by the conservative groups in the country including most religious factions as they feel any other mode of sex education will be in effect promoting the engaging of sexual activities among the youth (Cook & Clarke 236). Comprehensive sex education son the other hand focuses on all aspects involving sex education including its biology, human sexual behavior and the practice of safe sex as an alternative option. This type of sex education though considered unorthodox by the conservative groups have proved to be more effective within the schools as compared to the abstinence only programs in terms of preventing teen pregnancies. Comprehensive sex education includes teaching the use of condoms and other prevention