High Schools: Condom Dissemination - Essay Example

Condom Distribution Program in High Schools Name Institution Condom Distribution Program in High Schools The issue of distribution of condoms in high schools for teenagers has been an issue that raised a lot of debate in US, with some people claiming that it promotes promiscuity among teenagers. However, those in support of the distribution program claim that distribution of the condoms is beneficial as it protects teenagers against sexually transmitted diseases and teenage pregnancy (Moran, 2009). In this study, states that have adopted the condom distribution program in US will be analyzed. The demographic characteristics of those targeted in each state will also be discussed, with the reasons given in each state also an issue of discussion. The states in US where condom distribution is widespread include Los Angeles, Pennsylvania, state of Maryland, Massachusetts among others. There are a total of 21 states, with approximately 500 schools having condom distribution programs. These are the states where the distribution of condoms program is widespread and widely accepted. In Pennsylvania, the use of condoms is mostly prevalent in the city of Philadelphia, where 22 schools in the city having already implemented the program. The program targets mainly teens in high school. The argument given is that teenagers in high school are sexually active and are therefore engaging in sexual activities. This has led to a rise in cases of pregnancy and STI infections. Condom distribution program in Philadelphia was initiated in 2010 after reports indicated that there were high levels of gonorrhea and HIV infections among the young people. This prompted the authorities to look for ways to curb the menace by starting the condom distribution program. However, this program has elicited debate and opposition with some parents opposed to the initiative saying that it is equivalent to advertising sex (Francoeur, Koch & Weis, 1999). They argue this is going to increase sexual activity among the teens therefore promoting immorality. Religious leaders have also been drawn in the debate and they argue that condom use should not be allowed in high schools and that the students should be taught the importance of abstaining up to the time of marriage. However, studies carried out by researchers indicate that the gospel of abstinence is not working among teenagers. Since most of them are sexually active, they still engage in unsafe sexual activities even after been told the importance of abstaining. This therefore requires a practical solution, which is the use of condoms. In Philadelphia, condom distribution program targets teenagers in areas with high prevalence of sexual infections. Condom dispensers have been provided in schools to help students have an easy access to the condoms. In the 22 schools that the program has been introduced, the school administration has informed parents of the new program (Moran, 2009). However, those parents who are opposed to the program can have their kids exempted from the program. The schools look for consent from the parents before providing condoms to the teens. In some schools, nurses have been employed to provide the condoms to the students. Studies carried in the state have indicated reduced cases of HIV infections and early pregnancies. About the issue of increased sexual activities among teenagers with the introduction of condoms, as raised by those opposed to the program, studies have shown that there is no remarkable increase in sexual activities among the teenagers with the introduction of the program. This therefore nullifies the argument raised by those opposed to the program that the condom distribution program will increase the rate of immorality among the teenagers. Condom use and distribution among teenagers started gaining popularity in 1993, where some states in US felt that there was need to give teenagers condoms so as to reduce infections as well as early pregnancies. The success of the use of condoms in some states led to the introduction of the programs in other states ((Francoeur, Koch & Weis, 1999). Another state in which condom distribution among the teenagers is prevalent is the state of Maryland. Prior to the introduction of condom distribution program, schools realized that parents were not providing their children with the sexual education. It was realized parents either ignored the subject or felt ashamed to discuss the issue with their children. The schools did not also have appropriate programs that could teach exhaustively on sexuality and sexual matters. Most schools did not teach their students about morals, relationships, self respect, self discipline and contraceptives. This led to increased cases of unprotected sex among the teenagers (Moran, 2009). Consequently, this led to increased rates of sexual infections and early pregnancies. For instance, the state of Maryland registers more than 16000 pregnancies each year. 95% of these pregnancies are always unintended. Consequently, this has led to increased rates of miscarriages and abortions. Miscarriages are usually due to lack of medical attention to the pregnant teens. Most of these teen mothers become poor because they never finish their high school education. This means that they are unable to get in any formal employment (Jonsen, 1993). This makes them to depend on financial aid programs like WIC and Welfare for survival. Welfare is a program that provides food stamps and money for poor families. WIC provides cheese, milk, cereals, eggs, fruit juices, peanut butter, dried beans and infant formula for the low income families. The program also gives education on nutrition and healthcare referrals for free. Such programs help many poor families each year. It was also discovered that amongst all the age groups, the rate of sexually related diseases was highest among teenagers. In Maryland, one out of four teenagers contract a sex related disease each year. Common diseases that are prevalent among teenagers in Maryland include gonorrhea, Chlamydia and HIV (Jonsen, 1993). All these factors warrant for the availability of a condom distribution program that will ensure that teens get access to condoms so as to prevent themselves from getting infected and also from early pregnancies. Though the condom distribution programs should enacted in schools, sex education should also be provided. This is because most teenagers have little knowledge on the use of condoms. For instance, some teens reuse condoms. Some use the condoms with lubricants which may dissolve the latex in the condoms (Francoeur, Koch & Weis, 1999). This makes the condoms to burst resulting to an infection risk. Condoms are effective only if they are used properly. This therefore makes sex education on the use of condoms very important to the teenagers if the condom distribution program is to be effective. Massachusetts is another state where the condom distribution program is in the advanced stage. Like in the other states, the program was introduced because of increased cases of teenage pregnancy and infections. The program, in the state of Massachusetts, was first introduced in the county of Falmouth. However, the program met with a lot of opposition from parents, who claimed that the program interfered with their parental rights and that it denied them their religious freedom (Jonsen, 1993). The parents moved to court to block the program from further distribution of condoms. However, the Supreme Court in Massachusetts declined to uphold the case presented by the parents by claiming that the program did not in any way infringe on their rights as parents. The court also said that the program did not infringe on the rights of the students (Moran, 2009). The jury said that the students were not compelled to use condoms. There was no penalty to the students for failure to take part in the program. They were free to choose whether to use the program or not. In New York, in the year 1991, the board of education introduced the program of condom distribution. as in the case of Falmouth, the parents stood against the program. The matter ended in court. The parents argued that provision of condoms was a health service and should therefore not be provided to students. The board on its part argued that it was an educational program and not a medical service. However, unlike in the case of Falmouth, the board of education lost the case. Generally, many states in US have adopted the condom distribution program in schools so as to curb sexual infections and early pregnancies among teens. The proponents of the program claim that the program is important as it reduces infections and pregnancies among teenagers. However, those who are against it claim that program is likely to increase promiscuity among teens and that teenagers should taught to abstain until they marry or grow old enough to have sex (Francoeur, Koch & Weis, 1999). However, increased sexual activities among teens make the program important. References Francoeur, R. T., Koch, P. B., & Weis, D. L. (1999). Sexuality in America: Understanding our sexual values and behavior. Washington, D.C: National Acad. Press. Jonsen, A. R. (1993). The social impact of AIDS in the United States: Panel on monitoring the social impact Moran, J.P. (2009). Teaching sex: The shaping of adolescence in the 20th century. Cambridge: Harvard University Press Read More