Condoms should be distributed in schools: agree or disagree Essay

The topic of elicit is a very controversial emergence especially among adolescentrs. Teenagers are at a point in their lives where hormones are at a high and they feel the need to indulge in familiar activities. Therefore it is important that teenagers understand the importance of safe sex and the consequences of unprotected sex.There are many factors impact Jamaican high school students as they increasingly participate in unprotected sexual acts and as such condoms should be distributed as they help to abase these factors mainly the high teen gestation period rate, the high STD/STI rate and likewise the ineffectiveness of abstinence. The first major factor faced by high school students is teenage maternal quality. According to (Guttmacher Institute, 2010), teenagers (aged 1519) who do not use a contraceptive during sex are twice as likely to become teen mothers this has become the newest trend among teenage girls.It has also been noticed among health authorities that there is a significant rise in teenage pregnancies, according to (Watson, 2011) from the Jamaican Gleaner adolescent pregnancy continues to be a major public-health challenge in Jamaica, approximately 18 per cent of children born in Jamaica are attributed to adolescent girls and as such condoms should be distributed in schools as a counter measure. Watson also stated that more than 60 of both 100 pregnancies (66.2 percent) among adolescent girls in the age group 15-19 years were unplanned in 2008.As a result of these findings it can clearly be seen that there is a need for condoms to be distributed in schools to help reduce/ control the teenage pregnancy rate. The second major factor is sexually transmissible diseases putting surfacely known as STDs. According to (Hirsch, L, MD, 2010) STDs have become increasingly common among teens. It is well known that latex condoms are the save form of birth control that reduces the risk of contracting a STD, and must be used every time.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2012 supports this by stating that the correct and consistent use of male latex condoms can reduce the risk of STD transmission, including HIV infection. As a result of this, condoms should be made readily available to students. A study done by (Horn & Keough, 2012) reported that12 million cases of sexually patrimonial diseases occur individually year, 3 million (or 25 percent) are among teenagers about 13 percent of youth ages 13 to 19 contract a STD each year this is a very high percentage of teenagers, if condoms were to be distributed there would be a significant decrease.Another major factor is the increasing ineffectiveness of abstinence programs. Students have begun to neglect this message as they explore their sexuality. According to (Toledo, 2011) schools using abstinence-only sex education programs have significantly higher teenage pregnancy and birth rates than schools with more comprehensive sex education programs. Supporting this is (Douglas, 2008) who states studies show that most abstinence programs did not delay initiation of sex and only 3 of 9 had any significant positive effects on any sexual behaviour.If we cannot convince students to abstain from sexual activities, we should nurture safe sex in schools by distributing condoms. An article written by (Stepp, 2007) supports this by stating that a study authorized by Congress in the United States of America in 1997 following 2000 children from elementary or middle school to high school concluded that abstinence-only sex education does not keep teenagers from having sex. Some may palisade that condoms should not be distributed in high schools because they promote sexual activities and also due to the fact that schools are institutions of education.According to (Cullinan, 2004), there will be a problem if teachers distribute condoms, as they will be seen to be promoting sexual activity. Cullinan futher states that education is about providing information we can provide the information about condoms and where to tick them, but they should not be distributed in schools. However, I believe that providing information is not enough, it is better that condoms are easily available to students.Condoms do not promote sexual activity, they just provide protection (Quigle, 2003) states that condom availability was not associated with greater sexual activity among adolescents but was associated with greater condom use among those who were already sexually active. Supporting this is (Fisher, 2011) who states that paediatric studies show the availability of condoms does not increase sexual activity but can decrease unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV.In conclusion, I believe that distributing condoms in high school is a great first step as there are many factors affecting Jamaican high school students as they increasingly participate inunprotected sexual acts and as such condoms should be distributed as they help to redu ce these factors mainly the high teen pregnancy rate, the high STD/STI rate and also the ineffectiveness of abstinence.