March 2008

Teach sex ed built on facts, not dogma

St. Petersburg Times Editorial
March 20, 2008

On some issues the public is ahead of its political leaders. Sex education is one of them. By substantial margins, Floridians favor providing students with information about sexually transmitted disease prevention and contraception rather than just an abstinence-only approach favored by the Bush administration. The Legislature should hear this call and put the health of Florida's teens ahead of a narrow, religiously grounded agenda.

Sex Ed Can Help Prevent Teen Pregnancy

WWSB ABC 7 Sarasota
March 25, 2008


MONDAY, March 24 (HealthDay News) -- Comprehensive sex education may help reduce teen pregnancies without increasing levels of sexual intercourse or sexually transmitted diseases.

So find U.S. researchers who reviewed data from a 2002 national survey of more than 1,700 heterosexual teens, ages 15 to 19.

There is ongoing debate about whether abstinence-only education or comprehensive sex education (including instruction in birth control) is best for students.

Youths warned about prevalent STDs

Dayna Malek, Gainesville Sun
March 20, 2008

As students resume their studies and return from the spring break vacation, health officials are urging people - young people especially - to avoid exposing themselves to the sexually transmitted disease chlamydia.

Chlamydia is increasing in incidence and is the most frequently reported infectious disease in Alachua County, according to the Florida Department of Health.

Area Officials React to STD Study

Carmen Paige, Pensacola News Journal
March 13, 2008


Local public health officials aren't surprised by a recent national study which found that at least one in four teenage American girls has a sexually transmitted disease.

But they do hope the study, released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week, inspires parents and teens to communicate about sex to avoid potentially life-threatening diseases.

High rates of STDs concern Lee County

Jennifer Booth Reed, News-Press.com
March 12, 2008

One quarter of American teenage girls has at least one of four common sexually transmitted diseases, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study released Tuesday.

Researchers looked at the rates of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, chlamydia, herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection and trichomoniasis in a first-of-its-kind study of STD prevalence among 14- to 19-year-olds.

Study: 1 in 4 Teen Girls Has an STD

March 11, 2008

CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- At least one in four teenage girls nationwide
has a sexually transmitted disease, or more than 3 million teens,
according to the first study of its kind in this age group.

Floridians Want Sex Ed In Schools

Donna Winchester, New York Times
March 1, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - An overwhelming majority of Floridians, including many who describe themselves as evangelical Christians, think public schools should teach sex education, according to a St. Petersburg Times survey. What's more, they think the curriculum should go beyond an abstinence-only approach, covering such topics as disease prevention and contraception.