Abstinence, be faithful, use a condom

Abstinence, be faithful, use a condom, also known as the ABC strategy, abstinence-plus sex education or abstinence-based sex education, is a sex education policy based on a combination of "risk avoidance" and harm reduction which modifies the approach of abstinence-only sex education by including education about the value of partner reduction, safe sex, and birth control methods. Abstinence-only sex education is strictly to promote the sexual abstinence until marriage, and does not teach about safe sex or contraceptives. The abstinence-based sex education program is meant to stress abstinence and include information on safe sex practices. In general terms, this strategy of sex education is a compromise between abstinence-only education and comprehensive sex education. The ABC approach was developed in response to the growing epidemic of HIV/AIDS in Africa, and to prevent the spread of other sexually transmitted infections. This approach has been credited by some with the falling numbers of those infected with AIDS in Uganda, Kenya and Zimbabwe, among others. From 1990 to 2001 the percentage of Ugandans living with AIDS fell from 15% to between 5 and 6%.^[1]^[2] This fall is believed to result from the employment of the ABC approach, especially reduction in the number of sex partners, called "Zero-Grazing" in Uganda.

Abstinence-based sex education can include issues of human relationships, the basic biology of human reproduction, safe sex methods and contraceptives, HIV/AIDS information, and masturbation in place of sex. It recommends sexual abstinence outside marriage as an ideal, having only a single long-term sexual partner. The use of condoms and other safe sex practices is advocated only if it is not possible to remain with a single sexual partner. Advocating this ideal, whilst pragmatically dealing with the fact that abstinence only sex education is ineffective by itself, has made the ABC approach popular with many African governments and relief agencies.^[3]

The ABC approach has been used in African countries. Versions of this approach have been used for abstinence-only sex education in Uganda.^[4] Its positive impact has been confirmed by a 2009 Stanford University survey.^[5]

^ Cohen, Jonathan (2005). "ABC in Uganda: success or subterfuge?". HIV/AIDS Policy & Law Review. 10 (2): 23–4. PMID 16365967.
^ Green, Edward C.; Halperin, Daniel T.; Nantulya, Vinand; Hogle, Janice A. (2006-05-11). "Uganda's HIV Prevention Success: The Role of Sexual Behavior Change and the National Response". AIDS and Behavior. 10 (4): 335–346. doi:10.1007/s10461-006-9073-y. ISSN 1090-7165. PMC 1544373. PMID 16688475.
^ Green, Edward C. (2003). Rethinking AIDS Prevention (book). Preager. ISBN 978-0865693166. OCLC 612065556.^{[page needed]}
^ "The ABC of HIV prevention". AVERT. 2015-07-20.
^
Bendavid, Eran; Bhattacharya, Jayanta (2009). "The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief in Africa: An Evaluation of Outcomes". Annals of Internal Medicine. 150 (10): 688–95. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-150-10-200905190-00117. PMC 2892894. PMID 19349625.
- Lay summary in: Ruthann Richter (April 6, 2009). "Stanford study first ever to show U.S. AIDS relief program saved a million lives". Stanford Center for Health Policy (Press release). Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. Archived from the original on 2010-05-10.

[1] Cohen, Jonathan (2005). "ABC in Uganda: success or subterfuge?". HIV/AIDS Policy & Law Review. 10 (2): 23–4. PMID 16365967.

[:0-2] Green, Edward C.; Halperin, Daniel T.; Nantulya, Vinand; Hogle, Janice A. (2006-05-11). "Uganda's HIV Prevention Success: The Role of Sexual Behavior Change and the National Response". AIDS and Behavior. 10 (4): 335–346. doi:10.1007/s10461-006-9073-y. ISSN 1090-7165. PMC 1544373. PMID 16688475.

[3] Green, Edward C. (2003). Rethinking AIDS Prevention (book). Preager. ISBN 978-0865693166. OCLC 612065556.^{[page needed]}

[4] "The ABC of HIV prevention". AVERT. 2015-07-20.

[5] Bendavid, Eran; Bhattacharya, Jayanta (2009). "The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief in Africa: An Evaluation of Outcomes". Annals of Internal Medicine. 150 (10): 688–95. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-150-10-200905190-00117. PMC 2892894. PMID 19349625.
Lay summary in: Ruthann Richter (April 6, 2009). "Stanford study first ever to show U.S. AIDS relief program saved a million lives". Stanford Center for Health Policy (Press release). Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. Archived from the original on 2010-05-10.

[6] Lay summary in: Ruthann Richter (April 6, 2009). "Stanford study first ever to show U.S. AIDS relief program saved a million lives". Stanford Center for Health Policy (Press release). Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. Archived from the original on 2010-05-10.

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