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State refusal of federal funding for abstinence-only programs

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Abstract

Increasingly, individual states have refused federal Title V funding for abstinence-only programming. This study explored the political, social, and economic forces influencing selected states’ decisions to accept or reject funding. Data were collected as structured case studies. Snowball sampling of key informants identified archival materials such as evaluations, governmental communications, and public surveys. Refusal states often had progressive governments and strong advocates for comprehensive sexuality education and legislation. These states had concerns about the efficacy and medical accuracy of abstinence-only curricula. Comparison states accepting funds had minimal public dialogue about Title V and ignored public opinion polls favoring comprehensive sexuality education. State abstinence-only policies are influenced by the political, social, and economic environment. Public health professionals can facilitate policy change in abstinence-only policies by building coalitions of supporters for comprehensive sex education and challenging the medical accuracy and efficacy of abstinence-only programs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Weill Medical School of Cornell University, 210 East 85th Street, #5, 10028, New York, NY

    Marissa Raymond

  2. School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University, 243 West 63rd Street, 1A, 10023, New York, NY

    Lylyana Bogdanovich

  3. Department of Family, Social Medicine of Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 3544 Jerome Ave, 10467, Bronx, NY

    Dalia Brahmi

  4. Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, and the School for International and Public Affairs, Columbia University, 722 West 168th Street, 10032, New York, NY

    Laura Jane Cardinal

  5. Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 273 Bennett Avenue, 7B, 10040, New York, NY

    Gulielma Leonard Fager

  6. Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 181 Western Dr., 07078, Short Hills, NJ

    LeighAnn C. Frattarelli

  7. Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 60 Haven Avenue, B-2, 10032, New York, NY

    Gabrielle Hecker

  8. Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 555 Fort Washington Avenue, #1C, 10033, New York, NY

    Elizabeth Ann Jarpe

  9. Sociomedical Sciences Department, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 30-31 69th Street, 1st Floor, 11377, Woodside, NY

    Adam Viera

  10. Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 60 Haven Avenue, B-2, 10032, New York, NY

    Leslie M. Kantor & John S. Santelli

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  1. Marissa Raymond
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  2. Lylyana Bogdanovich
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  3. Dalia Brahmi
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  4. Laura Jane Cardinal
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  7. Gabrielle Hecker
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  8. Elizabeth Ann Jarpe
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  11. John S. Santelli
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Correspondence to Marissa Raymond.

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Raymond, M., Bogdanovich, L., Brahmi, D. et al. State refusal of federal funding for abstinence-only programs. Sex Res Soc Policy 5, 44 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1525/srsp.2008.5.3.44

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/srsp.2008.5.3.44

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