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Condom availability in schools: the need for improved program evaluations
J Stryker1, S E Samuels, M D Smith
1Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California at San Francisco.
American Journal of Public Health
|December 1, 1994
Summary
Local debates significantly impact school condom programs. Few programs collect data on effectiveness, highlighting the need for research to inform public health and values discussions.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Education Policy
- Adolescent Health
Background:
- School-based condom availability programs are often subjects of local debate.
- These debates involve complex interactions between scientific, moral, and political considerations.
- Understanding these dynamics is crucial for effective program implementation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine how contentious local debates influence the design and implementation of school-based condom availability programs.
- To identify challenges and opportunities in developing and executing these programs within diverse community contexts.
Main Methods:
- A 1992 forum convened 50 leading educators and health officials to review information on school condom availability.
- Expert discussions focused on existing program designs and implementation strategies.
Main Results:
- Existing condom availability programs rarely incorporated designs to collect definitive data on program effectiveness.
- Key measures such as sexual risk-taking behavior were often not rigorously assessed.
Conclusions:
- The debate surrounding school condom programs intertwines scientific evidence with deeply held moral and political values.
- Behavioral research is essential to inform discussions on sexual decision-making, privacy, family integrity, parental autonomy, and public health.
- Evidence-based approaches can help navigate these complex debates and improve adolescent health outcomes.