GAO Advises Agency on Condom InformationBy KEVIN FREKING
The Associated Press
Thursday, October 19, 2006; 6:51 PM
WASHINGTON -- Government auditors reminded the Bush administration Thursday
that literature distributed by federally funded abstinence programs must contain
medically accurate information about condoms' effectiveness in preventing
sexually transmitted diseases.
The Government Accountability Office did not make any judgment about the
accuracy of the literature. But the government watchdog did say the Department
of Health and Human Services is required by law to ensure that materials addressing
sexually transmitted diseases "shall contain medically accurate information
on condom effectiveness."
The Bush administration has contended that materials prepared by the programs,
which received about $170 million in 2006, did not fall within the scope of the
statute.
-snip-The GAO opinion was hailed by groups that allege abstinence education programs
routinely exaggerate condom failure rates.
-snip- Full article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/19/AR2006101901180.html