Comprehensive sex education vital

Barbara A. Zdravecky, President of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida,
Guest Columnist, Tampa Tribune, March 26, 2008; Bradenton Herald, March 17, 2008;
The shocking news from the Centers for Disease Control that one in four teenage girls in the United States has a sexually transmitted infection (STI) emphasizes the critical need for real comprehensive sex education in schools in Florida and in this country.

The CDC study underscores what Planned Parenthood has known for years: Teenagers need honest information so they will know how to protect themselves against STIs and unintended pregnancy - so they will be able to make responsible decisions.

That is why Florida Planned Parenthood is backing The Healthy Teens Act (SB 848; HB 449) just introduced in the State Legislature this session. The Healthy Teens Act requires that public schools receiving state funding provide comprehensive, medically accurate, and age-appropriate factual information when teaching about sexually transmitted infections, family planning, or pregnancy. It is that simple - and it is urgently needed.

Florida has the sixth highest rate of syphilis in the country; the second highest HIV/AIDS case rate; and the sixth highest rate of teen pregnancy of any state. It is obvious that Florida needs The Healthy Teens Act, and I call on all our citizens to contact their state legislators and urge them to pass this needed legislation.

Incredibly, in the last decade, more than $1.5 billion has been wasted by the federal government on funding dangerous abstinence-only programs. Of these funds, Florida has taken and spent over $10 million annually. Abstinence-only programs are not allowed to discuss contraception, thus denying teenagers life-saving information about how to protect themselves. Study after study has shown that these abstinence-only programs do nothing to reduce the incidence of STIs or teen pregnancy. A real waste of money and our young girls are paying the price.

Fortunately, 17 governors have now refused to accept these abstinence-only funds for their states. In Florida, we call on Gov. Crist to be the 18th to call a halt to this harmful and wasteful spending. A survey taken last year revealed that 73 percent of Floridians believe public schools should teach a comprehensive sex ed program. And in 2006 a study showed that 90 percent of Florida teachers felt that real sex education should be taught in schools.

The time has come to act. Passing The Healthy Teens Act and will be a major step in the right direction.

In addition to education, our teens need access to affordable protection and treatment for STIs. That is why I am so pleased to have the support and backing of so many citizens of Manatee County for opening a new Planned Parenthood health clinic in our county. The new clinic will open in Oneco in May, and we hope to make a major contribution towards the health and safety of both teens and adult men and women.

Barbara A. Zdravecky is the president and chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida.