Two-year government study shows most programs contain medical inaccuracies, emphasize contraception.

A government report on the effectiveness of comprehensive sex education shows the most popular programs mention condoms and contraception nearly seven times more often than abstinence, have little effect on sexual activity or use of contraception, and contain medical inaccuracies.

In 2005, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) in the Department of Health and Human Services was tasked by Republican Sens. Rick Santorum and Tom Coburn to review and evaluate comprehensive sex education programs supported by federal dollars.

The National Institutes of Health defines comprehensive sex education as “teaching both abstinence and the use of protective methods for sexually active youth.”

Over the next two years, ACF studied the nine most common programs across the nation. The 40-page report was released Tuesday.

"It was found that there was virtually no effect on delaying sexual debut in children using these sex education curricula, and no long-term effects," said Linda Klepacki, sexual health analyst for Focus on the Family Action. "In other words, they don’t work."

The curriculum review consisted of four components: Each curriculum underwent an extensive content analysis; the stated purposes of the curricula were compared to the actual emphases of the curricula, as demonstrated by the content analysis; curriculum content was evaluated for medical accuracy, primarily the accuracy of statements about condoms; and evaluations of each curriculum were located and summarized.

One curriculum, called "Positive Images," asks for 10 volunteers and has the students arrange a set of cards in proper order to illustrate effective condom use.

"Reducing the Risk," another curriculum, asks students to identify the following as either a truth or a myth: “Teenagers can obtain birth control pills from family planning clinics and doctors without permission from a parent."

It's true.

"You do not need a parent’s permission to get birth control at a clinic. No one needs to know that you are going to a clinic," reads the curriculum.

Findings from the "Reducing the Risk" review:

• No impact on frequency of intercourse.
• No impact on initiation of first sex at six months.
• No overall impact on unprotected sex at 18 months.
• No impact on pregnancy rates.

Meanwhile, the federal Title V program, which provides $50 million for abstinence education, is set to expire June 30.

The federal Community Based Abstinence Education program (CBAE) is set to receive $141 million for fiscal year 2008. It still must face the full House, which could vote this week.