A middle-school program that asks students to determine their own values regarding sex seems to reduce the likelihood of early sexual activity.

   The program is called "It's Your Game:  Keep It Real."  The course encourages abstinence and also includes information about contraceptives.

   The combination of computer games and classroom activities encourages middle-school aged youngsters to create their own rules about sex and then protect those rules when they're challenged.

   Researchers assigned randomly chosen seventh-grade students in a southeastern Texas school district to take part either in the "It's Your Game" program or the standard health education program.

   The students were surveyed when they reached the ninth grade.

   23-percent of those who'd taken part in the program said they'd had a sexual experience compared to 30-percent who'd taken the standard class.

   Study details are posted online in the "Journal of Adolescent Health."



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