Success seen with experimental abstinence program

CHICAGO - An experimental abstinence-only program without a moralistic tone can delay teens from having sex, a provocative study found.

Billed as the first rigorous research to show long-term success with an abstinence-only approach, the study differed from traditional programs that have lost federal and state support in recent years. The classes didn't preach saving sex until marriage or disparage condom use.

Instead, it involved assignments to help sixth- and seventh-graders see the drawbacks to sexual activity at their age, including having them list the pros and cons themselves. Their "cons" far outnumbered the "pros."

The students, mostly 12-year-olds, were assigned to one of four options: eight-hour-long abstinence-only classes, safe-sex classes, classes incorporating both approaches; or classes in general healthy behavior.

Two years later, about one-third of abstinence-only students said they'd had sex since the classes ended, versus about 49 percent in each of the other three groups. - AP