A global research review of school-based “comprehensive sex education” programs that emphasize condom use and use of contraceptives as primary strategies recommended to youth found very little effectiveness from these programs and instead found increased sexual activity.

The review, conducted by the Institute for Research & Evaluation and published in the Institute of Law and Medicine in January, examined 60 studies of 40 school-based comprehensive sex education programs in the U.S. as well as 43 studies of 39 programs in other countries.

The review found “little evidence that [comprehensive sex education] programs are effective at producing positive impact on their participants” and questioned the efficacy of school-based comprehensive sex education, according to a press release from the Institute for Research and Evaluation.

Of the 103 school-based comprehensive sex education studies, only six studies found evidence of “real effectiveness” at least 12 months after the program without producing other negative effects, the review found.

But the review also found no evidence that these six programs increased consistent condom usage or teen abstinence or reduced sexually transmitted diseases. It found 1 out of 6 programs was effective at reducing teen pregnancy.

Conversely, the review found that 16 of the studies showed negative effects on teen sexual behavior and sexual health including increases in teen sexual activity and other risky behaviors. Negative effects listed in the review include increased pregnancy, increased STDs, increased sexual activity (initiation, frequent, or recent sex), decreased condom use, increased oral sex, increased # of sex partners, an increase in forced or coerced sex, or an increase in paid sex.

(Research Study from Institute for Research and Evaluation) https://www.institute-research.com/published-cse.php