Promoting Abstinance in Teens

There are many factors that may influence a teen’s decision to become sexually active or to remain abstinent. These factors can include age, physical maturity, parental and personal values as well as education. The best way to promote abstinence is through knowledge and educating teens on the risks associated with sexual activity. Teens need to know the risks and understand that there are other ways to show their feelings, as well as ways to deal with the intensity of their sexual feelings. One third of fifteen year old girls surveyed in the United States say that neither of their parents have talked to them about how pregnancy occurs, and fifty percent say that neither parent has discussed contraception of sexually transmitted diseases (Guttmacher, 1994). This proves a definite need for abstinence education programs within the school setting. Through education teens can learn that abstinence is the only safe sex.
According to Child Trends Data Bank (2001) the percentage of...