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Education for Life Program Survey – 2006
Introduction
Surveys were administered in 2006 to four groups of South African students (primarily 14 - 25 year old girls) who participated in the South Africa Catholic Bishops Conference (CBC) Education for Life (EFL) abstinence-until-marriage education program.
CBC conducts the EFL program in parishes and schools and has affiliate offices in various African countries including: Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Malawi, Botswana, and Namibia. This program is funded through private donations. They conducted four 5-day programs with 40 – 60 kids per program. They reach about 600 kids per year. The EFL Program is a “conversion process that leads participants through introspection to face the reality of their present situation to identify, name and own behaviors, attitudes, and values that are not compatible with living the Gospel values.” Sr. Bernadette Duffy, EFL National Coordinator, related that (based on the youth with which they work) poverty, low employment rates (which leads to men working away from their families), sexually explicit media, and cultural traditions (e.g., circumcision with unclean utensils) are the major factors contributing to the spread of HIV/AIDS in South Africa.
The survey was conducted in three intervals: a pre-program survey was offered prior to instruction, a second survey was offered at the mid-point, and a post-program survey was offered shortly after instruction was completed. On all three surveys, the students were asked the same four questions. However, on the post survey, two additional questions were asked. The objective of the survey was to measure students’ knowledge, attitudes and intentions regarding sexual abstinence-until-marriage.
Data
There were 210 students who took the survey, and between 175-190 answered all three surveys completely. Surveys that were not answered completely (i.e. missing information) were discarded.
Between 95-97% of the students were girls, so although the data from boys is reflected in total numbers, the sample size was far too small to draw any conclusions. Additionally, the sample sizes of girls who were 14, 18, and over 19 years of age (each a separate category), are reflected in total numbers, but no conclusions were drawn individually in the graphs because of small size of the sample.
In these surveys, the ages primarily represented were girls age 15, 16, and 17. The graphs below reflect the changes in attitudes and understanding before the program, in the middle, and after the program were completed. The data reflected in the graphs below are “all girls (girls age 14-19>),” “girls age 15,” “girls age 16,” and “girls age 17.”
Conclusions
In every single question posed, the understanding, attitudes, and intentions of the girls, from before the instruction was received until after the program was completed, was increased positively towards understanding the meaning and importance of abstinence, faithfulness, and intention to be abstinent-until-marriage. In some cases, understanding increased as much as 20 percent (see first graph, “Girl’s Age 17”).
- All girls’ understanding increased from 79% before program to 96% after program.
- Girl’s age 15 understanding increased from 68% before program to 94% after program.
- Girl’s age 16 understanding increased from 81% before the program to 97% after the program.
- Girl’s age 17 understanding increased from 79% before the program to 98% after the program.
- All girls’ understanding increased from 79% before program to 93% after program.
- Girl’s age 15 understanding increased from 88% before the program to 89% after the program.
- Girl’s age 16 understanding increased from 81% before the program to 96% after the program.
- Girls age 17 understanding increased from 77% before program to 96% after program
- All girls who said they made a commitment to be abstinent increased from 63% before the program to 71% after the program.
- Girl’s age 15 who said they made a commitment to be abstinent increased from 80% before the program to 89% after the program.
- Girl’s age 16 who said they made a commitment to be abstinent increased from 64% before the program to 68% after the program.
- Girl’s age 17 who said they made a commitment to be abstinent increased from 58% before the program to 69% after the program.
- All girls who thought that it was important to be sexually abstinent until marriage increased from 78% before the program to 85% after the program.
- Girl’s age 15 who thought that it was important to be sexually abstinent until marriage increased from 83% before the program to 89% after the program.
- Girl’s age 16 who thought that it was important to be sexually abstinent until marriage increased from 81% before the program to 86% after the program.
- Girl’s age 17 who thought that it was important to be sexually abstinent until marriage increased from 74% before the program to 77% after the program.
- 81% of all girls said their understanding of sexual abstinence changed after they finished the program.
- 78% of girl’s age 15 said their understanding of sexual abstinence changed after they finished the program.
- 81% of girl’s age 16 said their understanding of sexual abstinence changed after they finished the program.
- 88% of girl’s age 17 said their understanding of sexual abstinence changed after they finished the program.
- 79% of all girls said their understanding of faithfulness in marriage changed after they finished the program.
- 75% of girl’s age 15 said their understanding of faithfulness in marriage changed after they finished the program.
- 81% of girl’s age 16 said their understanding of faithfulness in marriage changed after they finished the program.
- 85% of girl’s age 17 said their understanding of faithfulness in marriage changed after they finished the program.
Raw Data
Questionnaire 1
190 Female (97%)
5 Male (3%)
(1) Do you understand the meaning of sexual abstinence?
- 79 % (150/190) of girls said “Yes”
- 100% (5/5) boys said “Yes”
- 100% (2/2) of girls age 14 said “Yes”
- 68% (27/40) of girls age 15 said “Yes”
- 81% (63/78) of girls age 16 said “Yes”
- 79% (42/53) of girls age 17 said “Yes”
- 92% (11/12) of girls age 18 said “Yes”
- 100% (5/5) of girls 19 or older said “Yes”
(2) Do you understand the meaning of faithfulness in marriage?
- 79% (151/190) of girls said “Yes”
- 100% (5/5) of boys said “Yes”
- 50% (1/2) of girls aged14 said “Yes”
- 88% (35/40) of girls age 15 said “Yes”
- 81% (63/78) of girls age 16 said “Yes”
- 77% (41/53) of girls age 17 said “Yes”
- 67% (8/12) of girls age 18 said “Yes”
- 60% (3/4) of girls age 19 or older said “Yes”
(3) Have you made a commitment to be abstinent until marriage?
- 63% of girls said “yes”
- 0% of boys said “yes”
- 100% (2/2) of girls age 14 said “Yes”
- 80% (32/40) of girls age 15 said “Yes”
- 64% (50/78) of girls age 16 said “Yes”
- 58% (31/53) of girls age 17 said “Yes”
- 25% (3/12) of girls age 18 said “Yes”
- 20% (1/5) of girls age 19 said “Yes”
(4) Do you think it is important to be sexually abstinent until marriage?
- 78% (148/190) of girls said “Yes”
- 100% (5/5) of boys said “Yes”
- 100% (2/2) of girls age 14 said “Yes”
- 83% (33/40) of girls age 15 said “Yes”
- 81% (63/78) of girls age 16 said “Yes”
- 74% (39/53) of girls age 17 said “Yes”
- 58% (7/12) of girls age 18 said “Yes”
- 80% (4/5) of girls age 19 or older said “Yes”
Questionnaire 2
166 Female (95%)
8 Male (5%)
(1) Do you understand the meaning of sexual abstinence?
- 95% (157/166) of girls said “Yes”
- 100% (8/8) of boys said “Yes”
- 100% (2/2) of girls age 14 said “Yes”
- 97% (34/35) of girls age 15 said “Yes”
- 94% (64/68) of girls age 16 said “Yes”
- 94% (47/50) of girls age 17 said “Yes”
- 100 % (3/3) of girls age 18 said “Yes”
- 75% (3/4) of girls age 19 said “Yes”
(2) Do you understand the meaning of faithfulness in marriage?
- 85% (141/166) of girls said “Yes”
- 100% (5/5) of boys said “Yes”
- 50% (1/2) of girls age 14 said “Yes”
- 89% (31/35) of girls age 15 said “Yes”
- 90% (61/68) of girls age 16 said “Yes”
- 80% (40/50) of girls age 17 said “Yes”
- 83% (5/6) of girls age 18 said “Yes”
- 50% (24) of girls age 19 or older said “Yes”
(3) Have you made a commitment to be abstinent until marriage?
- 66% (110/166) of girls said “Yes”
- 13% (1/8) of boys said “Yes”
- 100% (3/3) of girls age 14 said “Yes”
- 86% (30/35) of girls age 15 said “Yes”
- 65% (44/68) of girls age 16 said “Yes”
- 56% (28/52) of girls age 17 said “Yes”
- 50% (3/6) of girls age 18 said “Yes”
- 50% (2/4) of girls age 19 or older said “Yes”
4) Do you think it is important to be sexually abstinent until marriage?
- 78% (129/166) of girls said “Yes”
- 100% (8/8) of boys said “Yes”
- 100% (3/3) of girls age 14 said “Yes”
- 83% (29/35) of girls age 15 said “Yes”
- 74% (50/68) of girls age 16 said “Yes”
- 76% (38/50) of girls age 17 said “Yes”
- 83% (5/6) of girls age 18 said “Yes”
- 100% (4/4) of girls age 19 or older said “Yes”
Questionnaire #3
167 Female (96%)
7 Male (4%)
(1) Do you understand the meaning of sexual abstinence?
- 96% (162/168) of girls said “Yes”
- 100% (7/7) of boys said “Yes”
- 100% (3/3) of girls age 14 said “Yes”
- 94% (34/36) of girls age 15 said “Yes”
- 97% (67/69) of girls age 16 said “Yes”
- 98% (47/48) of girls age 17 said “Yes”
- 100% (7/7) of girls age 18 said “Yes”
- 100% (5/5) of girls age 19 or older said “Yes”
(2) Do you understand the meaning of faithfulness in marriage?
· 93% (156/168) of girls said “Yes”
· 86% (6/7) of boys said “Yes”
· 67% (2/3) of girls age 14 said “Yes”
· 89% (32/36) of girls age 15 said “Yes”
· 96% (66/69) of girls age 16 said “Yes”
· 96% (46/48) of girls age 17 said “Yes”
· 100% (7/7) of girls age 18 said “Yes”
· 100% (5/5) of girls age 19 or older said “Yes”
(3) Have you made a commitment to be abstinent until marriage?
· 71% (118/167) of girls said “Yes”
· 14% (1/7) of boys said “Yes”
· 100% (3/3) of girls age 14 said “Yes”
· 89% (32/36) of girls age 15 said “Yes”
· 68% (47/69) of girls age 16 said “Yes”
· 69% (29/48) of girls age 17 said “Yes”
· 71% (5/7) of girls age 18 said “Yes”
· 40% (2/5) of girls age 19 or older said “Yes”
4) Do you think it is important to be sexually abstinent until marriage?
· 85% (142/167) of girls said “Yes”
· 100% (7/7) of boys said “Yes”
· 100% (3/3) of girls age 14 said “Yes”
· 89% (32/36) of girls age 15 said “Yes”
· 86% (59/69) of girls age 16 said “Yes”
· 77% (37/48) of girls age 17 said “Yes”
· 86% (6/7) of girls age 18 said “Yes”
· 100% (5/5) of girls age 19 or older said “Yes”
(5) Since you began this program, has your understanding of sexual abstinence changed?
- 81% (136/168) of girls said “Yes”
- 71% (5/7) of boys said “Yes”
- 67% (2/3) of girls age 14 said “Yes”
- 78% (28/36) of girls age 15 said “Yes”
- 81% (56/69) of girls age 16 said “Yes”
- 88% (42/48) of girls age 17 said “Yes”
- 57% (4/7) of girls age 18 said “Yes”
- 80% (4/5) of girls age 19 or older said “Yes”
(6) Since you began this program, has your understanding of faithfulness in marriage changed?
- 79% (133/168) of girls said “Yes”
- 86% (6/7) of boys said “Yes”
- 33% (1/3) of girls age 14 said “Yes”
- 75% (27/36) of girls age 15 said “Yes”
- 81% (56/69) of girls age 16 said “Yes”
- 85% (41/48) of girls age 17 said “Yes”
- 57% (4/7) of girls age 18 said “Yes”
- 80% (4/5) of girls age 19 or older said “Yes”
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