Free Distribution of Condoms To High Schools and Colleges

Daniel Boateng-Kontoh
Dr. Chewning
English 101-301
October 2, 2013
Free distribution of condoms to high school and college students
In response to their quest to explore their sexuality, high school and college students are sometimes provided condoms by the government and various higher educational institutions. This recent measure has been criticized both positively and negatively under the social, religious, and economic aspects of life. Taking sides in a matter as such may not be the most ideal thing to do however ignorance is no defense and that it is why I staunchly deem it essential to make an overview of is essential To commence with, one may ask “why high schools and colleges are the center of focus in terms of distributing condoms?” I would answer that question by making reference to the sexual and emotional features that come right from the onset of adolescence. At the age of twelve, a boy or girl experiences physical modification which influences their emotional and sexual preferences. However, they begin to understand more about these changes when they are just about fifteen and at this point they find themselves in high school. As of 2009, the national teen birth rate (ages 15-19) was 39.1% per 1,000 females ; although, it had decreased by 37% from 61.8% births per 1,000 females in 1991, it has never changed the fact that students in high school are more prone to indulge in sexual intercourse as compared to those in middle school. The same students in high school who have sex are the same ones who proceed into college and continue in the act. Therefore in the fight against STD’s and teenage pregnancy, these institutions of secondary and higher education are made the epicenter in the distribution of condoms. Furthermore, the main motive behind the distribution of condoms to high school and college students is to decrease the rate of teenage pregnancy and the spread of STD’s which is good, but it is problematic in the Christian society. Christian parents who go strictly by the Bible will definitely raise an objection to the distribution of condoms in these institutions. A significant number of Christian communities believe that the inception of condoms has rather promoted promiscuity and annulled the Christian value of procreation. The Gogodala, a Christian based community in Papua New Guinea in their protest against national condom promotion claims condom supply has “turned sex into a game” and trashed the will of God which talks about child-bearing.
The main purpose of distributing condoms in high schools and colleges is being defeated with the current statistics. Stats have established that nineteen million new STD cases are diagnosed each year in the United States, with individuals aged fifteen to twenty-four years accounting for approximately half of these cases. Students in higher institutions especially those in college, create a number of factors relating to this statistical analysis such as embarrassment of using condoms, the displeasure of using them during sexual intercourse and peer influence . Finally, the free distribution of condoms in high schools endorses sex education which expects to embed maturity in the students and improve the way they handle their sex lives. One may beg to differ that this is irrelevant upon witnessing the problems of relationships and sex in the high schools which goes on to promote the “hit and run” concept in college which basically means unfaithfulness. The youth in Tanzania from ages fourteen to twenty claims condoms are the cause of unfaithfulness and see fidelity to their partners as a very complex issue. Free condom distribution in high schools and colleges may be a good point of intervention; however, there are objections to it. Conclusively, it has been established that the sole aim of distributing condoms to secondary and higher institutions is to prevent teenage pregnancy and STD’s while the Christian community see it as a militant to their values.

Works Cited
Hollub, Ariane, Michael Reece, Debby Herbenick, Devon J., Hensel and Susan E. Middlestadt. “College Students and Condom Attitude: Validation of the Multi-Factor Attitude toward Condoms Scale (MFACS)”. Journal of American College Health 59.8(2011). ERIC-Academic Search Premier. Web. 30 September 2013
Pazol, K., Warner L., Gavin L., Callaghan W.M, Spitz A.M, Anderson J.E, Barfield W.D. W “MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 60.8. ERIC- Academic Search Premier. Web. 2 October 2013
Baumgartner, Joy Noel, Lugina Helen, Johnson Laura, Nyamhanga Tumaini. “Aids Care” 22.9 (2010). ERIC- Academic Search Premier. Web. 2 October 2013
Dundon Alison, Wilde Charles. Oceania 77.1 (2007). ERIC- Academic Search Premier. Web. 2 October 2013

Cited: Hollub, Ariane, Michael Reece, Debby Herbenick, Devon J., Hensel and Susan E. Middlestadt. “College Students and Condom Attitude: Validation of the Multi-Factor Attitude toward Condoms Scale (MFACS)”. Journal of American College Health 59.8(2011). ERIC-Academic Search Premier. Web. 30 September 2013 Pazol, K., Warner L., Gavin L., Callaghan W.M, Spitz A.M, Anderson J.E, Barfield W.D. W “MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 60.8. ERIC- Academic Search Premier. Web. 2 October 2013 Baumgartner, Joy Noel, Lugina Helen, Johnson Laura, Nyamhanga Tumaini. “Aids Care” 22.9 (2010). ERIC- Academic Search Premier. Web. 2 October 2013 Dundon Alison, Wilde Charles. Oceania 77.1 (2007). ERIC- Academic Search Premier. Web. 2 October 2013