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NAEA: Abstinence Education Works in GeorgiaTeen Pregnancy Rate Slashed by nearly 50% since Georgia Mandated Abstinence Education Washington, DC – Members of the National Abstinence Education Association congratulate Georgia educators and parents on the tremendous success of abstinence education in their state. Georgia officials recently announced new figures showing that teen pregnancy rates have consistently and dramatically dropped for 11 straight years since the institution of abstinence education. The pregnancy rate for ages 15-17 years has fallen from 68.3 (per 1000) in 1994 to 36.8 in 2005, a decrease of 46% over the past 11 years.
“There are so many pressures facing our nation’s youth today,” said Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss. “I think it is very important that we educate our young people about consequences and accountability, and encourage them to make the right decisions and maintain a healthy lifestyle. I believe abstinence education is a necessary investment in their future.”
“It is important to offer programs that encourage Georgia’s youth to make healthy and wise choices,” Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson said. “Abstinence education has contributed greatly in helping Georgia teens make the right decisions.”
The decline in teen pregnancy in the state of Georgia began in 1995 after the Georgia Department of Education established a policy requiring abstinence education in public schools, as well as the creation of parent-involved sex education review committees to oversee selection and administration of sex education programs within each district. Abstinence programs are now solidly in place throughout the state.
“Parents are largely responsible for this success because they are the ones who recognized that abstinence from sexual activity was best for their teen’s health and future” says Danielle Ruedt, Georgia Abstinence Education State Coordinator “and they demanded this message be taught in the classroom and in the community
Recently some congressional leaders have called to eliminate Title V federal funding for abstinence education and to redirect these funds to promote so-called “comprehensive” sex education programs. However, a 2007 Zogby poll indicates parents prefer abstinence education over comprehensive sex education by a 2 to 1 margin, regardless of political or religious ideology.
“These results provide powerful evidence to even the harshest critics that abstinence education works” says Valerie Huber, Executive Director of NAEA, “and highlight the urgent need to maintain government funding for these vital programs - National Abstinence Education Association
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