ATLANTA---Jan. 28, 1997--
Abstinence-based program in Georgia schools produces promising results
in attacking teen pregnancy problem
"Choosing the Best," a sex education program used in Georgia
schools including two state pilot programs in Carroll and Muscogee counties
has a statistically significant impact on teen behavior, according to a
study released today by Northwestern University Medical School.
The results from a one-year study of 2,500 teens showed that one year after
completing the "Choosing the Best" program, the number of newly
sexually active teens fell 21 percent below predicted levels. In addition,
54 percent of the teens who had been recently sexually active before participating
in the program were no longer recently sexually active one year later.
"The study's findings are statistically significant in showing that
Choosing the Best changed the behavior of teens who used the program,"
said John Vessey, Ph.D., who directed the research.
"Choosing the Best" is a medically based sex education program
for middle schoolers that encourages abstinence until marriage by providing
the motivation and skills to remain sexually abstinent. Created by Bruce
Cook, president of Rapha Counseling Services, Choosing the Best uniquely
involves parents through homework discussion assignments, parent orientation
sessions and a practical how-to book for parents entitled, "How to
Help Your Teens Choose the Best -- Abstinence Until Marriage."
The program has been purchased by one-third of Georgia school districts
and has received enthusiastic reviews from teachers, parents and students.
"If teens are sexually active, they will likely get pregnant because
they are poor contraceptive users," said Jan Greene, a Muscogee County
health educator who has overseen Choosing the Best's instruction to more
than 4,000 eighth-graders. "Choosing the Best is a great program.
Our students have been very responsive to it and we hope that many of them
will choose to abstain."
The Northwestern research comes in the midst of heated political discussions
about how $7.9 million in state funding for welfare reform should be used
to reduce Georgia's high teen pregnancy rate.
The 1995-1996 Northwestern University study focused on the post-test and
one-year follow-up information provided by 2,541 students ranging in age
from 13 to 16 from 65 Illinois public schools. Test results immediately
following the course indicated that over 74 percent of all students participating
in the course were then willing to say "no" to sex before marriage.
In addition, 60 percent of those students who were sexually active were
then willing to also say "no." The one-year follow-up study showed
behavior changes then resulted with 54 percent of the teens who had been
recently sexually active before participating in the program being no longer
recently sexually active one year later. Other findings of the study indicated
a high correlation between teen sexual activity and at-risk behaviors of
drinking and smoking.
"The study shows a strong correlation between teens' attitude and
behavior changes after experiencing Choosing the Best," said Bruce
Cook, who developed Choosing the Best along with other parents of teenagers,
teachers and medical doctors. "Our medical experts agree that abstinence
prevents not only pregnancy, but the spread of sexually transmitted diseases
which can lead to a multitude of problems in later life. It seems only
logical to appropriate funds to encourage programs like Choosing the Best
which have strong success data to back them up."
Dr. Bill Roper, former director of the Center for Disease Control (CDC),
states, "I have reviewed Choosing the Best and I believe it to be
a well-prepared program that gives young people needed information and
helps them build the skills they need for making healthful decisions."
Cook is president of Rapha Counseling Services, a national hospital-based
counseling and treatment program for adults and adolescents struggling
with emotional and substance abuse problems. He holds degrees from Georgia
Institute of Technology and Harvard University.
CONTACT: McNeely Pigott & Fox Public Relations, Nashville
Teresa Miller, 800/818-6953
or
Choosing the Best, Atlanta
Betsy Weitnauer, 770/952-5251
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