The available data on sex education suggest the following:
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Sex education, including condom promotion, does not encourage or increase sexual activity (Kirby 2001).
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Sex education reduces risk and positively affects sexual behaviors. In general, sex education programs increase knowledge about AIDS and related issues, increase intention to use condoms, and increase condom use among sexually active youths (Kim and others 1997).
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Abstinence-only education is not effective in promoting healthy sexual behaviors. Programs that promote both postponement of intercourse and contraceptive use were more effective in changing behaviors than those that stressed abstinence alone. None of the abstinence-only programs that have been evaluated demonstrated an overall positive effect on sexual behavior, nor did they affect contraceptive use among sexually active participants (Kirby 1997).
Source: Authors.
