Thank you Hai Thanh for introducing me.

As mentioned in his part, there exist a lot of shortcomings in abstinence-

based programs itself. I believe you are wondering what is the best sex education that should applied at schools, or
what is the alternative program for abstinence? In fact, researchers have found out the answer. It is agreed among
educators like the American-African woman in the video, researchers and parents that comprehensive sex
education is better and much more important in teaching sex ed.

Although Linh has given you an overview of this one, I still wanna emphasize it again.

UNESCO defined Comprehensive sex education as a curriculum-based process of teaching and learning about the
cognitive, emotional, physical and social aspects of sexuality. This includes teaching not only about abstinence, but
also contraception, including emergency contraception; reproductive choice; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender
(LGBT), and questioning issues; as well as, of course, anatomy; development; puberty; relationships; and all of the
other issues one would expect to be covered in a traditional sexuality education class. Furthermore, comprehensive
sexuality education should be science-based and medically accurate.

Now, I would like to list out and elaborate on the benefits that CSE might offer:

First, CSE programs can help young people delay sexual initiation.3-9

Numerous studies in peer reviewed literature, including a comprehensive study by the World Health Organization,
have demonstrated that sex education programs that teach young people about both abstinence and
contraception do not increase sexual activity nor lead youth to engage in sex at an earlier age.3-6 For those who
have already had sex, these programs have been shown to be effective in reducing the frequency of sexual
intercourse and the number of sexual partners and in helping young people to use condoms and/ contraceptives
more consistently.

Second, CSE provides age- and developmentally-appropriate information and skills to help young people delay
sexual initiation and to protect themselves when they do become sexually active.5,7,11

Comprehensive sexuality education is designed to be age- and developmentally-appropriate. Topics covered vary
by grade and are planned and sequential to build young people’s knowledge and skills as they mature.

For example, in kindergarten through second grade, students learn about family structure, the proper names for
body parts and what to do if someone touches them inappropriately. In grades three through five, students learn
about puberty and the changes they can expect in their bodies. They also begin to receive age-appropriate
information about HIV, including that the virus is not transmitted through casual contact. Sixth through eighth
grade students receive information on relationships, decision-making, assertiveness, and skill building to resist
social/ peer pressure. Abstinence is emphasized and concepts of disease and pregnancy prevention are introduced
in the latter grades. Students in secondary school are provided more complete information about sexually
transmitted infections and pregnancy, abstinence, and contraception and condoms. Students learn about
relationships,develop healthy communication and responsible decision-making skills.5-11

No comprehensive sexuality program provides information on how to have sex.

Research published in the Journal of Adolescent Health External link concluded that when sex education included
information about contraception, teens had a lower risk of pregnancy than adolescents who received abstinence-
only or no sex education. The findings could alleviate a common fear of parents and teachers who worry that
students are more likely to increase their sexual activity after receiving comprehensive sex education.

The more teens can access accurate information from a trusted provider, the more prepared they can be when
making decisions about their bodies and relationships. Granger said that in her clinical experience, teens will make a
decision to engage in sexual activity whether or not they feel adequately informed, leaving health professionals with
an opportunity to promote sexual health literacy.

MYTH Comprehensive sexuality education programs do not promote abstinence.19

FACT Evaluation of 23 comprehensive sexuality education programs showed that 14 were successful at helping
young people to delay sexual initiation.

Comprehensive sexuality education programs emphasize abstinence as the best and most effective method of
avoiding STIs, HIV, and unintended pregnancy. They also provide young people with information about
contraception and condoms to help them protect their health and lives when they do become sexually active.
Research shows that these programs are more effective at helping young people delay sexual initiation than
abstinence-only programs. In fact, a five-year study mandated by the U.S. Congress of abstinence-only-until-
marriage programs demonstrated that abstinence-only programs have no impact on young people’s sexual
behavior.23 Further, a large study in the U.S. found that abstinence-only programs did not help teens delay sexual
intercourse.3

Challenges of sex education

One of the main challenges of mandating comprehensive sex education is considering everyone involved in the
process: students, their classmates, parents, teachers and legislators. Teachers feel pressure from parents to
deliver just the right amount of information, but students tune out when educators fail to address their individual
questions.

So whose responsibility is it to make sure young people have the information they need to make healthy choices?
In areas where sex ed isn’t required, states can assume that parents will educate their children at home, but studies
show that adolescents are increasingly more likely to seek information from social media and online communities,
which can be more inclusive of gender and sexual minorities, but not consistently reliable for medical accuracy.