Sexual Risk Avoidance programs (SRA) formally known as Abstinence Only Education, approach teen sexuality from a holistic perspective and further develop the concept of abstinence to empower youth to make the best choices to achieve optimal health. SRA recognizes that the possible consequences of casual sex surpass that of pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI). It elects to follow a health model that promotes best health outcomes and not focus merely on reducing the risk.The National Center for Health Studies (NCHS) reports that 72 percent of boys and 73 percent of girls, ages 15-17 have never had sexual intercourse. By teaching the Risk Reduction method (Abstinence Plus) to only those teens that are sexually active we ignore the majority who choose abstinence. And, when we lump all teens into a category of “hormonally active and easily persuaded” we reduce all teens to a level that makes them no more teachable than the family pet. Why must we set the bar so low? The truth is, most teens possess the ability to learn disciplines that will help them achieve optimal sexual health. Why shouldn’t we prioritize messages that encourage these percentages upwards?
Comments (0)