Sex education programmes that exclusively encourage abstinence from sex do not appear to affect the risk of HIV infection in high income countries, according to a study published in the BMJ.

Compared with various controls, no programme had a beneficial effect on incidence of unprotected vaginal sex, number of partners, condom use, sexual initiation, incidence of pregnancy, or incidence of sexually transmitted infection.

The researchers at the University of Oxford reviewed 13 trials involving over 15,000 US young adults to assess the effects of abstinence only programmes in high income countries. 

They note that currently a third of US HIV prevention funds from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is used for abstinence only programmes.

In contrast programmes that promote the use of condoms greatly reduce the risk of acquiring HIV, especially when such programmes are culturally tailored behavioural interventions targeting people at highest risk of HIV infection, say researchers in an accompanying editorial.

www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/335/7613/248

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