Today the CDC released a report on the effectiveness of various approaches to teen pregnancy and HIV/STI prevention. The study was conducted by the Task Force on Community Preventative Services, an independent panel convened by the CDC. The report suggests that such prevention programs are most effective when they combine a clear message on the benefits of postponing sexual activity with medically accurate and comprehensive information on how to reduce the risks of pregnancy and STIs among teens who are having sex--including the use of contraception.

Most of the American public gets this. It's common sense. Yet, today's results are debated by many, with some saying they prove comprehensive sex ed programs work and abstinence education programs don't, and some saying the reverse. This debate arises in part because comprehensive sex ed and abstinence-only actually encompass many, many different programs, with varying levels of effectiveness behind them. The debate is fueled as much by ideology as it is by science and will likely continue for some time to come.

For those practitioners, educators and parents looking for a common-sense way forward in the meantime, I suggest focusing on specific programs rather than programmatic approaches. Some, but not all, comprehensive programs have rigorous evidence of positive impacts. These have been well-summarized. To date, none of the abstinence-only curricula have this level of evidence behind them, although that is not to say there may not be some in the future.

Efforts have their best chance of success if they stay grounded in science, whatever the state of the science is at the time. It's also important to realize that, while the reproductive health education we provide our teens in school is critical, no curriculum, regardless of its underlying ideology, is a silver bullet. Communities that truly care about preventing teen pregnancy need a comprehensive approach that includes not only schools, but also parents, community leaders, the media, and teens themselves.

Sheldon J. Segal is no longer with us. Segal, 83, died October 17 at his home in Woods Hole, MA. Although his work helped millions of women all over the world, he labored and died in relative anonymity.

What gives?

Segal is credited with leading the team that developed the contraceptive implant Norplant. He was also instrumental in the development of the Mirena intrauterine device and copper-bearing IUDs. In other words, Segal played a critical role in what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls one of the greatest public health achievements of the past 100 years---contraception.

You might have missed this news because the front page of several major newspapers featured other such absolutely essential fare as the fight for airplane overhead space (USA Today) and a new opus from Stephen King (Wall Street Journal).

What gives?

Rest in peace, Sheldon Segal, and thank you.

This Saturday, June 27th is the National HIV Testing Day. Coordinated by The National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA), this testing campaign reminds us that this completely preventable virus is alive and well and still spreading in the U.S.  On average, someone in this country is infected with HIV every nine and a half minutes.  And of the one million or so people here living with HIV, one in five don't know they're positive and nearly 40% aren't diagnosed until they've developed AIDS. 

The CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 16 and 64 gets tested at least once as a part of their routine medical care, while those in certain higher risk groups are urged to get tested at least once a year. Who's at higher risk? Injection drug users. Men who have sex with men. And those with multiple sex partners.  That last category doesn't mean ménage à trois. We're talking about any sexually active men or women, who are not in a long term, mutually monogamous relationship. 

It's never been easier to find a testing site.  You can type in your zip code online, text your zip to KNOWIT (566948), or call 1-800-CDC-INFO to find the testing center nearest you. So if you've never been tested or if you fall into one of those higher risk groups, you have no excuse. Take the test. Take control.

The CDC has just released new data on high school teens' sexual behavior and contraceptive use.  Headline?  Not too good. 

Teen sexual activity is up and contraceptive use is down between 2005 and 2007.  On every single measure (ever had sex, currently sexually active, condom use at last sex, pill use, four or more sexual partners) the arrows are pointing in the wrong direction.

Perhaps the more interesting and significant trend, however, is the tale of two decades.  All of these same measures (with the exception of birth control pill use which has declined steadily since 1991) improved dramatically between 1991 and 2001.  Between 2001 and 2007?  The most charitable description of the current decade is...well...running in place. 

A few more YRBS items for your consideration: 

·          National Campaign press release

·          National Campaign fact sheet

·          Full YRBS report

Tell us what you think.  Why do you think teen sexual behavior is changing?

Just in time for the DVD release of Juno tomorrow, CDC's National Center for Health Statistics has released new teen pregnancy data.  Good news---teen pregnancy declined 5% between 2002 and 2004. 

Of course, this news may leave some scratching their heads and wondering, "didn't the CDC just say that teen pregnancy rates were increasing?"  Close but not quite.  In December 2007, NCHS reported a 3% increase in the teen birth rate, not the pregnancy rate. 

Still confused?  Read on and be enlightened.

Read a statement from NC CEO Sarah Brown here.   Read a data cheat sheet here.  Read the NCHS report here.