During the 1980s, efforts increased to alert the public to the dangers of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and unintended pregnancy, yet these problems have increased. Adolescents and young adults have been especially hard hit. Pregnancy and birth rates among teenagers are at their highest levels in two decades.
Research has demonstrated that consistent condom use is an effective way to prevent the transmission of HIV and other STDs and in the prevention of pregnancy.
Analyses of the Urban Institute’s National Survey of Adolescent Males (NSAM) show that although most sexually experienced teenage males have used condoms at least once, many do not use them consistently. Only 35 percent reported using a condom every time they had sex in the past year. But teenage males use condoms more than older men, and between 1979 and 1988 reported condom use among male teenagers doubled. These patterns indicate that teenagers are a promising target population for condom promotion efforts since they appear more ready than older men to change their behaviors.
Unfortunately, condom use among young men appears to have plateaued since 1988. Comparisons of 1988 and 1991 NSAM data show no change in rates of use.
Attitudes Related to Use
Condom use is higher among young men who worry more frequently about AIDS when the effects of other factors are held constant. Between 1988 and 1991, however, sexually experienced teenagers showed declines in the frequency with which they worried about AIDS, how serious they thought AIDS was, and the likelihood they would get AIDS. These reductions were associated with lower levels of condom use.
Male teenagers who think they will be embarrassed buying or using condoms, use them less consistently than those with higher embarrassment thresholds. If they think that the use of a condom will reduce the physical pleasure associated with intercourse, they are even less likely to use condoms. Anticipated loss of pleasure is one of the strongest correlates of reduced condom use.
Beliefs about male responsibility for contraception are also associated with condom use. Teenage males use condoms more often when they believe that men bear responsibility for initiating discussion of contraception with their female partners, refusing sexual intercourse if contraception is not used, helping to pay for the contraceptive pill, and assuming financial responsibility for any resulting children. Further work has shown that young men’s views of their contraceptive responsibility are very much related to their beliefs about masculinity.
In today’s society, teens, especially those in their high school years feel higher pressure from their peers to participate in sexual activity. Some individuals will have sex with only one person, while others will have sex with multiple partners which can become extremely harmful to the physical and emotional health of the teenager. These individuals believe that having sex in high school is a “popular” thing and everyone has to lose their virginity before they graduate, but it is not. With schools giving out the appropriate contraceptives, such as condoms, the teenagers will not be embarrassed walking into a store and buying what they need. They will simply receive them in their school hours free of charge and it could possibly save someone’s life. Some people think condom distribution in high schools should not be required because it will be perceived as giving the child permission to partic...
The second reason for contraceptives being given to teenagers, will help them avoid many dangerous Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) associated with unsafe sexual practices. Studies have shown an increase in unprotected sexuality among teenagers can result in a wide-range of social problems, such as STDs. The topic of birth control in public schools has attracted much support from the American public, according to statistics surveyed. For example, a 2006 Associated Press-Ipsos survey discovered that 67% of Americans support the provision of contraceptives to students. This study also determined that, “About as many - 62 percent - said they believe providing birth control reduces the number of teenage pregnancies” (Associated Press).
Young adolescents do not realize how much of a risk it is to engage in sexual intercourse even while wearing a condom. There are three ways you can get genital herpes: oral sex, anal sex, and vaginal sex. According to The Washington Post, if a condom is used 100 percent of the time during vaginal sex, condoms reduce the risk of getting genital herpes by only about 50 percent (Washington 2). It’s still safer to use a condom to reduce chances of getting other sexually transmitted diseases. But adolescents should know that your risk is only cut only half while being protected. Rob Stein mentions, that many adolescents and adults say they engage in oral sex as a less risky type of sex (Stein 2). Most of these adolescents look at oral sex as safer type of sex but
...s effected by the three parameters, so in this case the health motivation is very high. Therefore, teens are very like to change to use condoms to prevent pregnancy.
Freely accessible birth control for teenagers has always been a topic of debate, but it prevents pregnancy, abortion, and it also has many health benefits. There are cons to the argument that suggests a rise in promiscuity in the adolescent demographic, but in spite of these cons the rise of birth control continues, because access to birth control helps adolescents make an informed and safe decision on whether or not to participate in sexual activities. It doesn’t make the decision for them.
Villarosa, Linda. “More Teenagers Say No to Sex, and Experts Aren't Sure Why.” New York Times 23 Dec. 2003, Late Edition (East Coast): Section F. New York Times. Web. 26 March 2013.
Condoms are more effective if teens are taught about sex education. Condoms are an important factor in preventing teenage pregnancy. Many people believe that the number of teen pregnancies would drop if schools would distribute condoms. Condoms are safe, cheap, and easy to use. The reason to distribute condoms is not ...
Murray, Steven, and Jessica Miller. "Birth Control and Condom Usage Among College Students." Department of Human Performance and Wellness and Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Mesa State College 25.1 (2000):1- 3. Web. 6 Apr. 2014.
Many teenagers and adolescents have been given false information or hold fabricated beliefs concerning teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Because teenagers are misguided and hold false convictions about teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, they are more likely to make undesirable choices that may negatively influence their futures. If they are educated properly, teenagers could live a productive and healthy life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014), “teenagers between the ages of 15-24 represent almost half of the 20 million sexually transmitted diseases and cases that occur yearly“. Gillette (2012) asserts, “United States has the highest teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease cases” compared to other industrialized countries.
The government likes to pretend that if high school students get taught the “abstinence-only” method they would never think of taking part in sexual activities. Statistically this is incorrect. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “56 percent of high school students are virgins”(Martin). For the 56 percent abstinence only is doing them well, but there are still 44 percent of high school students engaging in sex without knowing the precau...
However, Advocates for Youth Researchers studied the National Survey of Family Growth to determine the impact of sexuality education on youth sexual risk-taking for young people ages 15-19, and found that teens who received comprehensive sex education were 50 percent less likely to experience pregnancy than those who received abstinence-only education (Kohler et al 2008). Proving that comprehensive programs do not increase teen pregnancy, but rather have the potential to significantly decrease it. Although teen pregnancy in the U.S has declined in recent years, the teen birth rate remains higher than in most other developed countries at 26.5 per 1,000 in youths aged 15-19 (CDC 2013). This illustrates the need for action. Comprehensive sexuality education will teach these teens the how to prevent pregnancy and could potentially lower these numbers. Empowering teens with pregnancy knowledge is only one of the many benefits of comprehensive sexuality education, but providing life-saving information to teens about STD’s is vitally important as
may not continue to utilize this protection. In Tom Utley’s article Handing out condoms will encourage teenage sex he wrote,
Over the years the topic has gone through various changes in the public school system. The first generation taught sexual anatomy and the risk of pregnancy, but soon was criticized for not showing knowledge of reducing risky sexual behavior, which soon lead to the second generation (Rodriguez, 1). The second generation approached sexual communication, values, and making personal decisions in one’s life; although students made smarter decisions in the areas taught, it failed to introduce teens to all contraceptives, therefore risky behavior was still being shown. Following the failure of the second generation the program of “abstinence only” began. The problem with this was it not only made students aware of the contraception available to the children, therefore encouraging risky behavior. The most current generation, the practice being taught in schools today, is known as “comprehensive sexuality education”; it not only encourages young adult...
Pregnancy is not the only consequence young people face when engaging in unprotected sex. They also accept the possibility of contracting a sexually transmitted disease. The Center for Disease Control reports that an estimated 10-12 million people contract some type of STD every year. This number has quadrupled in the last twenty years. An alarming one in every five Americans from the age of twelve and on are reported with herpes every year. Consequently women suffer this disease at an ungodly figure: one in every three women become infected with herpes every year (www.thriveonline.comhealth/Library).
...tions and fifty percent of them were from young adults ages 15-24 (CDC). “Every year around nineteen million Americans get an STI infection and out of that nineteen million, nine million of them are young adults between the age 15 to 24” (STD Statistics). We want statistics like these to go down not stay the same or go up. They are not going to go down unless we do something about it. The more people getting viruses, the better chance our children are going to have sex with someone that has a virus and does not know it. There will be a domino effect passing viruses down from generation to generation if something does not change. It is a parent’s job to want the best for their children, education, health and knowing all about everything that can change their lives drastically. More sex education in schools could change the direction that people’s lives are heading.