Family Planning Fails Children

The Times of London (subscription necessary) reported this morning that the conclusions of a recent study presented to the Royal Economic Society indicate that government efforts to promote what we in America call “safe-sex” amongst teenagers have resulted in an increase in sexual activity and sexually transmitted diseases. The Times wrote, “Expanding contraceptive services and providing the morning-after pill free to teenagers have encouraged sexual behaviour rather than reducing it… sexual activity and sexually transmitted diseases have risen fastest in those areas where the Government’s policy has been most actively pursued.”

The Times quoted David Paton, the author of the study: “When you introduce policies that seem obvious, it is important to factor in the possibility that the policies may actually cause people to change how they behave. In this case, it appears that some measures aimed at reducing teenage pregnancy rates induced changes in teenage behaviour that were large enough not only to negate the intended impact on conceptions, but to have an adverse impact on another important area of sexual health — sexually transmitted infections.”

Deftly avoiding responding to the results of the study, Ann Weyman of the Family Planning Association told the Times, “… of course, if you start looking for more infections you will find them.” Distorting logic as only a proponent of big wasteful government spending can, she continued, “We want to see young people delaying having sex until they are able to make responsible decisions. I don’t think this research helps to achieve any of those aims.”