Education on sexual abstinence for teenagers have been making an impact, according to Focus on the Family Abstinence Policy Manager Linda Klepacki, evident to the declining number of teens engaging in sexual activity as reported by the Center for Disease Control’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance (YRBS) for 2003. However, Klepacki still believes parents must take a role in teaching their children about what true safe sex in order to prevent the rising number of cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among teens.

“The decrease in teen sexual activity, teen pregnancies and teen abortions is an exciting development – but also a call for abstinence educators to renew their commitment to teaching our youth that the only ‘safe sex’ is that between a husband and a wife,” Klepacki said.

According to the report, the number of teenagers engaging in sexual activity decreased from 54 percent in 1991 to 47 percent in 2003. Despite the decline of sexual activity among the high students surveyed, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, one the six categories addressed in the YRBS, reported teenager STD cases have increased.

Klepacki attributes the trend in STD cases to the false assurances given by sex-ed advocates that say using protection during sexual activity is sufficient.

“We must educate, equip and encourage parents to teach their kids what they know to be best: abstinence until marriage,” she said.

Parents are the children’s first and best sex educators, according to Klepacki, who noted the number one reason teens give for abstaining from sex is to avoid their parents’ disapproval.