Background
Resources
YouthNet Research
Complete sexual abstinence is the most effective means of preventing HIV infection, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections. Abstinence offers adolescents, in particular, a number of advantages because it requires no supplies or clinic visits. However, it does require strong social support from community members and the development of specific skills, including a high degree of motivation, self-control, and communication.
Various groups interpret the notion of abstinence differently; for example, most faith-based groups generally view abstinence as a commitment to refrain from sexual intimacy until marriage, while others may view abstinence as delaying sex until some future time. The term can also refer to those who have been sexually active at one time but have now decided to abstain, referred to as 'secondary abstinence or 'secondary virginity.'
Gender issues affect abstinence in numerous ways. In many cultures, gender norms for females include submissiveness, deference to male authority, dependence, virginity until marriage, and faithfulness during marriage. Norms for men, in contrast, are built around power and control, independence, not showing emotions, risktaking, using violence to resolve conflict, early sexual activity, and having multiple sexual partners. Such inequity and inequality limit young people's control over their sexual and reproductive lives. Many young women and men cannot choose abstinence for themselves, either because they are already married, or may be coerced into sex in exchange for money or food.
Through FHI/YouthNet, a number of resources for abstinence and being faithful for youth (ABY) programs are available. These include:
Tips on Practicing Abstinence:
These tips on practicing abstinence help young people develop a strategy for choosing abstinence.
(excerpted from HIV Counseling and Testing for Youth, pages 44-45)
Publications:
YouthLens No. 2 "Sexuality and Family Life Education"
YouthLens No. 8 "Abstinence and Delayed Sexual Initiation"
Global Health Technical Brief No. 8, "Abstinence and Delayed Sexual Initiation for Youth."
Network articles:
Network 22(1): Abstinence: An Option for Adolescents
Network 23(3): YouthLens: Abstinence, Fewer Partners, and Condom Use are Complementary Messages
Web page:
The YouthNet Sexuality and Family Life Education Web page presents a number of resources, including literature reviews, guides and tools, curricula, policy briefs, materials for involving parents, and "best practices" curricula and programs for training primary and secondary school teachers.
Slide presentation:
Session IV: Teaching abstinence in schools: Findings from Horizons studies
Resources from organizations other than FHI include:
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One YouthNet study focuses on faithfulness and partner reduction, specifically understanding how to develop and convey messages about this neglected component of "ABC." The information, being developed in Tanzania, will be useful for promoting behavior change (especially A and B) in the countries where YouthNet has concentrated projects, Tanzania and Nambia, as well as in other settings and in media campaigns.
