Watchdog: Efforts to assess accuracy, effectiveness of abstinence programs lacking
Associated Press
KXAN.com Austin
November 17, 2006
WASHINGTON The Government Accountability Office says most federally-backed abstinence programs aren't scientifically reviewed for effectiveness.
The watchdog group also reports that abstinence-only literature isn't reviewed for scientific accuracy. It issued a report last month to remind the Bush administration that those materials have to contain accurate statistics on how effective condom use is. But the Health and Human Services Department, which supplies about 158 (m) million dollars in grants for abstinence education, says no sex education programs are adequately studied. H-H-S says it's beginning efforts to study the effectiveness of the programs it funds. It's also requiring those programs to spend more on evaluation.
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