A recently published study by The Institute for Research & Evaluation (IRE) reviewed 120 of the strongest, most up-to-date impact studies of school-based sex education worldwide. The 120 studies spanning 30 years of research were vetted for adequate scientific quality by UNESCO, CDC, HHS to insure a credible database.
The IRE review found that When measured by credible
criteria derived from the science of prevention research: Comprehensive Sex Education shows little evidence of effectiveness in
schools worldwide. In contrast 7 out of 17 studies of Abstinence Education (AE)
in the U.S show effectiveness. Globally, there appears to be more evidence of
harmful CSE impact than CSE effectiveness for programs in schools.
There is Significant evidence of harm by CSE in school
classrooms (U.S & Non-U.S combined. 16 out of 103 CSE studies globally
found increased sexual risk behavior, pregnancy, or STDs for teenage program
participants. The evidence of harm was highest for CSE in African schools, nearly
1 in 4 studies.
Some CSE studies may yet emerge showing positive results,
but they would need to be vetted for scientific rigor and their results would
need to meet credible criteria for program effectiveness. Moreover, it would
take many such studies to reverse the pattern of poor CSE
results.
This discrepancy may occur because many reviews of CSE research
use questionable criteria for effectiveness to define program
success. Then they claim there is evidence of CSE success, based on these
questionable criteria. Many CSE Review use Short-term results (lasting only 3 months), a different criterion for CSE & AE are used: e.g a 3-month
follow-up interval for CSE and 3 years for AE, No impact on the target
population, only on a sub-group of the targeted population (e.g only on
boys) among others.
The 2019 Global CSE Report revealed 87% school-based CSE failure rate worldwide, 89% CSE failure rate in Africa and Many CSE programs increased sexual risks (24% in Africa)
Using criteria from the field of prevention
research, No evidence showed
that school-based CSE prevents teen pregnancy or STDs, No evidence showed that
CSE increases abstinence, and Too many CSE programs increased sexual risk taking.
When measured by credible criteria derived from the field of
prevention research, a database containing 103 of the strongest and most recent CSE studies, vetted
for research quality by three reputed scientific agencies (UNESCO, CDC and
HHS) showed little evidence of CSE effectiveness in school settings and a concerning
number of negative effects.
Three decades of research indicate that
CSE has not been an
effective public health strategy in classrooms around the world and that
too many programs may be doing harm.
Given the threat posed by STDs, HIV, and pregnancy to the health and well-being of young people worldwide, the compelling lack of evidence of effectiveness for school-based Comprehensive Sex Education after three decades of research, and a concerning rate of harmful impact, policymakers should abandon plans for the global dissemination of CSE.
More:
- The Failure of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) and the Case for Abstinence Education What the Research Shows
- The Failures of Comprehensive Sexuality Education: Evidence from Research Findings
