Mississippi State Department of Health

PREP for Parents

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Parents can help their children by providing them with medically-accurate, age-appropriate information about sex and sex-related topics. You are the number one influence in your child's life.

You are the number one influence in your child's life.

2012 Data from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy

Parents Support Sex-Related Education

Parents overwhelmingly support teaching sex-related education in Mississippi public schools.

The 2012 survey of parents by the Center for Mississippi Health Policy found that a majority of parents think that comprehensive sex-related education should begin in middle school with a curriculum determined by public health professionals.

Effective Education Programs

Experts have identified critical characteristics of highly effective sex education and HIV/STI prevention education programs. Such programs:

List from www.Advocatesforyouth.org

Abstinence-Plus Education: Facts and Myths

Myth: Teaching students about contraception encourages sexual activity and increases the chance of teenage pregnancy.

Truth: Expert panels that have studied this issue have concluded that comprehensive sex and HIV/AIDS education programs and condom availability programs do not increase sexual activity and can be effective in reducing high-risk sexual behaviors among adolescents.

Myth: Contraceptives fail so frequently that we should only teach teens to abstain.

Truth: Modern contraceptives are highly effective. The percentage of women experiencing pregnancy within one year ranges from 0.03 percent using Depo-Provera to nine percent using the cervical cap (with perfect use). Even imperfect use protects women far better than does using no protection. Rates of pregnancy with imperfect use range from 0.03 percent using Depo-Provera to 21 percent using the female condom compared to 85 percent of women using no protection.

Myth: Sex education teaches teens how to do it.

Truth: Comprehensive sex education gives information about a broad variety of topics including human development, relationships, sexual health, and decision-making. Such education focuses on giving young people the skills they need to make responsible decisions. Classes do not teach sexual techniques.

For More Information



Links referenced on this page
Read the complete report    https://mshealthpolicy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/HB-999-Survey-MSU-Report-Nov-2011.pdf
www.Advocatesforyouth.org    http://www.advocatesforyouth.org
Ten Tips For Parents    http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/parents/ten_tips.aspx
Student Health Statistics    http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/31,0,302,html ok
Teen Pregnancy    http://www.cdc.gov/TeenPregnancy/Parents.htm

Find this page at http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/index.cfm

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