Condom Availability Programs in Massachusetts High Schools: Relationships With Condom Use and Sexual Behavior
Susan M. Blake, PhD,
Rebecca Ledsky, MBA,
Carol Goodenow, PhD,
Richard Sawyer, PhD,
David Lohrmann, PhD and
Richard Windsor, PhD
Susan M. Blake and Richard Windsor are with the Department of Prevention and Community Health, George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, Washington, DC. Rebecca Ledsky, Richard Sawyer, and David Lohrmann are with the Academy for Educational Development, Washington, DC. Carol Goodenow is with the Massachusetts Department of Education, Malden.
Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Susan M. Blake, PhD, George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, Department of Prevention and Community Health, 2175 K St NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20037 (e-mail: smblake1{at}aol.com).
Objectives. This study assessed relationships between condomavailability programs accompanied by community discussion andinvolvement and adolescent sexual practices.
Methods. Sexual practice and condom use differences were assessedin a representative sample of 4166 adolescents enrolled in highschools with and without condom availability programs.
Results. Adolescents in schools where condoms were availablewere more likely to receive condom use instruction and lesslikely to report lifetime or recent sexual intercourse. Sexuallyactive adolescents in those schools were twice as likely touse condoms, but less likely to use other contraceptive methods,during their most recent sexual encounter.
Conclusions. The strategy of making condoms available, an indicationof socioenvironmental support for condom use, may improve HIVprevention practices.
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