A different kind of abstinence program

On 2/19, PPNEO Outreach Specialist, Lisette Anderson’s letter to the editor titled, “A different kind of abstinence program,” was published in the Akron Beacon Journal and on Ohio.com. It addressed PPNEO’s inclusion of abstinence in our comprehensive sex education programs. It was in response to an editorial published about the value of making room for abstinence discussion in sex education.

Editor:

Regarding the recent editorial (''Abstinence option,'' Feb 8), as a community and school-based educator for Planned Parenthood of Northeast Ohio for over 20 years, I want to stress that the new study is about an abstinence program that is very different from the failed ''abstinence only'' programs that teach misleading information, including assertions that condoms don't work.

It is likely this program would be eligible for federal funding from the Obama administration for new sex education programs because it is medically accurate.

As a Planned Parenthood educator, I have always stressed that abstinence is the best way to avoid unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. I am pleased to see another study that points out the difference between providing medically accurate, age-appropriate information and the more traditional abstinence-only education that contains inaccurate information.

In Ohio, we are fortunate that some of our legislators have also noted this difference and have introduced a bill, Act for Our Children's Future, calling upon Ohio schools that provide sex education to provide comprehensive, medically accurate information.

This is not a mandate that schools provide sex education, but if they do, it must be factual. Our youth deserve the facts as they learn about sexuality, healthy communication and responsible decision-making.

Lisette Anderson
Sharon Township