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July 30, 2005 Even though abstinence works 100% of the time it is tried in preventing unwanted pregnancy and every single one of the STDs known to medical science: “Group omits abstinence clause in updated pregnancy policy” (by Lindsey Tanner, AP). Quote #1: “A leading group of U.S. pediatricians (American Academy of Pediatrics) says teenagers need access to birth control and emergency contraception, not the abstinence-only approach to sex education favored by religious groups and President Bush.” Quote #2: “Even though there is great enthusiasm in some circles for abstinence-only interventions, the evidence does not support abstinence-only interventions as the best way to keep young people from unintended pregnancy.” Quote #3: “Teaching abstinence but not birth control makes it more likely that once teenagers initiate sexual activity they will have unsafe sex and contract [STDs].” And here is the clause that is omitted: “abstinence counseling is an important role for all pediatricians”. (Please note the absence of the term “abstinence-only”) Please note also, that this one “important” aspect of counseling seems to be no longer “important” to the American Academy of Pediatrics. As much as I agree “abstinence-only” is a wrong approach. I suggest that the policies of government in this regard are being misrepresented. Uganda has cut its rates of HIV infection by 20% or greater using a program called the “ABC Approach”. This involves a balanced presentation of “A” Abstinence, “B” Being Faithful in Marriage, and “C” using a Condom when not doing “A” or “B”. It is this program, and others that perhaps mirror it that are being touted by the President and others as provable success stories. It is true there are groups out there touting “abstinence-only”. This isn’t really a rational approach. But the American Academy of Pediatrics has gone off the other deep end by extracting ONLY abstinence from its counseling. That seem rather irresponsible to me. Why? Well, Linda A. Johnson of the AP reports in: “Condom clash centers on effectiveness, abstinence” that there is a battle over how to label boxes of condoms because no one is really sure how effective condoms are against the host of possible diseases one can get even using a condom. It is known that condoms are not as effective as abstinence, but they are not “completely ineffective”. They do offer some protection from some of the more severe diseases. The current warning suggests: “If used properly, latex condoms will help reduce the risk of transmission of HIV infection [AIDS] and many other sexually transmitted diseases.” Along with the article was a chart detailing STD transmission figures for 2003; showing well over a million new cases of all diseases with “Chlamydia” topping the list at 877,478 cases and HIV transmissions showing 33,301 new cases reported for the year. The article does not detail how many of these cases in 2003 did or did not involve condom use. Nor did the article discuss how many American people in 2003 had sex that didn’t get any diseases at all. The way the article reads you might believe that if you had sex, you got a disease, unless you used a condom with the properly worded warning label on the box. NOT TO WORRY THOUGH! Why? Well, Eric Hand of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported in: “Breakthrough could lead to birth-control vaccine” that it may become possible for a woman to take a shot to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Even though “vaccines are tricky...” and a woman may not develop enough “antibodies” and there may be “side effects” – Rajesh Naz, “a West Virginia University reproductive immunologist” said in an interview: “Almost half a century has passed and there’s nothing new in contraception.” So the new attempt is to develop a “tricky” vaccine that will enable someone to have sex without the possibility of unwanted pregnancy (maybe). Using a vaccine also means you don’t need to use any of those latex condoms that are so unreliable if not used properly. Oh Wait! You still have to use the condoms to lower the risk of getting some STDs. Well, it is a good thing people can just as easily abstain from all that extra-curricular sexual contact and prevent STDs and unwanted pregnancy 100% of the time they do that. ------------ About the Author: Michael John McCrae has contributed over 400 articles to Useless-Knowledge.com. Email: macswordV@hotmail.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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