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Should High Schools implement condom availability programs?
This is a controversial and polemic approach to reduce rates of sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancy among teenagers. Data from different sources has shown that is at the age of fifteen, on average, that teenagers have their first sexual relation. However, condoms are not used by most of them (in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, it is used by only 56% of the individuals aged between 13 and 18).
The condom availability program appears not to have produced an increase in sexual activity among high school students, and it appears to have led to improved condom use. Nevertheless, social and political aspects play a role on this issue.
Is the program necessary?
Since it's a public health issue, should religion and cultural aspects interfere?
Is it moral from your point of view? Why?
Pros and cons
I'm a 17 year old student from Brazil and I'm looking for opinions about this issue that could help me and my school's student council to discuss with the administration the implementation of the condom availability program for High School students.
Thank you!
Michelle Capon
The biggest thing about having a condom program at your school is STIGMA. Getting over that is the hardest part of any new sexual educationt campaign. The other thing is getting the message across to the parents. We are not living in the same day and age that they did. Times have changed and kids are having sex younger and younger.
But isn't it better to be safe than sorry. I bet you would find similar states for the amount of condom use between ages 13 - 18 no matter where you go. Its not cool to wear a condom. When I was in high school I went to a public health education forum - where they gave out condoms and posters, and I actually distributed them around the school and hung posters on the wall. I got in trouble mind, by the principal (because the content wasn't appropriate) but I simply told him that I got it from a public health education forum and he backed down - didn't really have much choice.
If you promote safe a kid isn't going to care - whether its STD's or HIV - they just don't care. You have to make sex fun and acceptable and the promotion of condom acceptable. Have you thought of condom vending machines? It should somehow be anonymous so that kids don't feel strange about taking condoms. Lets face it kids are going to have sex whether you say its ok or not, why not give them the supplies to make them safer.
Ratnakar Nutenki
Eve Ash
Stoyu Boshnakov
Drew B
Meike Rapp
1. The definition of 'marriageable ground', as you call it, is probably something we will never agree on and each person has to define for himself. I'm sure if you ask two teenagers madly in love, they will both tell you that they can imagine marrying the other person. What are the critera for 'marriageable ground'? How do you define it?
2. Despite the noble idea of 'waiting' for the right person, statistics show: People DON'T wait. No matter how much parents and teachers want them to. So while I do think it's important that parents, teachers and spiritual leaders explain to kids the importance of waiting for the right person, it's equally important to provide the means of safe sex, should they decide they are ready.
I grew up in Germany and starting in 8th grade, we had condoms readily available (for free) at school following a one-week seminar on 'Love'. Yes, love, not sex. It covered the classic 'birds and bees' issues, biological aspects and all. But it also dealt with the emotional side, relationships, trust, dealing with disappointment, etc. I thought the combination of the two was so important!
And btw, for a country that quite freely deals with sex and all that goes with it (condom vending machines!), you might find it interesting that despite all of that, German kids are having their first sex at 17,6 years. In the US, scores more conservative in that department, it's 18 years. And in the UK it's 18,3.
A bit more food for thought:
The US leads the western world in teenage pregnancy incidents and 1 in 4 teenage girls who participated in abstinence programs have or have had an STD in their life. If that doesn't make a decent case for encouraging condom use, I don't know what does.
Alexander Hartmann
1.) Nobody will start fucking around, just 'cause contraception is available.
Nobody who wants to have sex will go "oh well -no let's not have any until I can afford Condoms at 50 cents a piece."
2.) Protected Sex is always better than unprotected Sex.
Easy - isn't it.
3.) ah yeah.. and if you believe in "no Sex before marriage" - there's something REALLY wrong with your worldview. It's one thing to make it the behaviour of your own choice... but judging other teenagers?
How perverted can someone be - to think sex is something bad, or evil...?
Lucas Avelleda 500+
Drew B
Lucas Avelleda 500+
Martim Cutum 500+
Drew B
Marianna Gomes
So yes, I think we should raise awareness.
BUT...
...only distributing condoms and making them available won't help. They will just sit there in a box. Or they will take it, but not use it when The Moment comes. "They are awful, I don't feel good in it, I forgot in the spur of the moment" We have to explain that their comfort and pleasure is not without consequences. And it only has to happen "one quick time"
I don't know many HIV+ people, only one and he's only an acquaintance from another town. So, you see, this is a far away reality for us, young people in most countries (I'm a 20 year old, also from Brazil), which leaves the danger out of sight (and therefore out of mind)
We have to insist on the fact that diseases are silent villains. And, you know, besides from the diseases. and despite having birth control, condoms are the best way for a guy to be sure he won't make a baby.
Because young girls these days are out of control. How will they be respected? They use their sex to get places, to get to people, to jobs. That is not so far away from using sex to get money, right? Sex should be enough by itself, and for yourself.
And, as I've seen now with a close male friend of mine, they LIE. A lot. They will say they are on the pill and make you sure you can do everything without protection, and you know, it isn't hard to convince a guy of that, right?
So the girls make babies. Not because they want to nurture a child, no. They use the child to get places too. Get more money, get that guy to stick with you for life. Those 15 minutes without a rubber don't sound too worthy now, right?
Isn't that a bit fucked up?
I still have no idea what kind of argument will make them realize the risks of sex life, but we must get there. And it must come from us, young people. They don't listen much to the elderly though they should.
Um grande abraço, Lucas
Melissa Bos
People/ adolesents are having sex, that is a fact. (with or without a condom)
The problem lies in the fact that there is still a taboo on sex. People are still uneducated about sex, don't know the consequences of sex AND the meaning of sex.
Desides sex being an act of pleasure and love, Sex is first an act of respect.
So wearing a condom is a sign of respect towards the other person.
I think we have to come to a point that the usage of a condom is the same as wearing a seat-belt in a car.
I believe when we distibute free condoms in combination with open minded en factual information about the human body and sex. The respect for other people will increase and the speading of STD's and unwanted pregnacies will decrease.
As in the matter of the involvent of religion and culture, I believe these two institutions are responsible for the taboo on sex. By labeling people based on their opinion af a person.
I realize a person is formed by their religion and the culture they are in. But still this person in very capable to show respect towards another person and protect them from STD's and unwanted pregnacies.
I truly hope that some day we will live in a STD free world, where everyone respect one another.
Lucas Avelleda 500+
"So wearing a condom is a sign of respect towards the other person."
That was beautiful, thank you!
Martim Cutum 500+
Monica Bunnay
"Is the program necessary?" Yes, for the sexual health of people engaged in sex, as well as the ability to reduce the current human population, which is becoming a real problem.
"Since it's a public health issue, should religion and cultural aspects interfere?" Well, I live in America where, technically, we're supposed to have separation of church and state (though, it doesn't really work out that way) so I say no, religion shouldn't interfere. But, that's my viewpoint...other people will vehemently disagree with me.
"Is it moral from your point of view? Why?" Yes, because it prevents the spread of STDs and unwanted pregnancies, and slows down our dangerously skyrocketing world population.
Harald Jezek 50+
My only concern of making condoms available in high schools would be that it could lead to increased sexual activity, however, if what you mentioned is correct and this concern is unfounded, then making them available shouldn't be a problem.
Obviously, beside making condoms available, education is an important factor as well, both in school and in the family.
Lucas Avelleda 500+
Yes, the government is also making condoms available in public high schools, however, it's hard to implement this program at private schools. Some people at this schools still thinks that sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancy are exclusive problems of poor populations, although you can get condoms for free here in Brazil. The problem pointed by the government is not financial, is psychological. Teenagers don't feel comfortable buying condoms or simply getting it for free. Schools seem to be a more appropriate place, where the teenager feels more comfortable to get condoms.
And I agree with you: education is essential.
Marianna Gomes
For those who don't know, here in Brazil you can go to any health public post and get a bunch of the government condoms, that, must I add, have proven to bee much more resistant and effective than the brands you can buy.
But you know, I've never been there to get those condoms for free. I buy them. To buy, you must have the will, the "guts" to face the cashier (it's not that big of a deal, teens!), you know, "it's a drag"
And also for your info, the parents that put their child on private schools (such as my own mom and dad) are what we all call
"SCARED MIDDLE CLASS"
They are the adults that prefer not to resolve about issues, but makeup them. They stick in bad marriages for appearance. They are the people who let the internet raise their kids. They are the adults who lock the children up in big castles, so they will not see the dangers of the world (but one day they will, and will they be prepared?)
And as you can imagine, they have no intimacy with their kids to talk about sex.
How can we expect they will take and use condoms just because they are available, if even their parents never brought attention to it?
Lucas Avelleda 500+
Martim Cutum 500+
Martim Cutum 500+
Lucas Avelleda 500+
Alexander Hartmann