Skip to main content
PMC home page
American Journal of Public Health logoLink to American Journal of Public Health
. 1997 Sep;87(9):1427–1433. doi: 10.2105/ajph.87.9.1427

Condom availability in New York City public high schools: relationships to condom use and sexual behavior.

S Guttmacher 1, L Lieberman 1, D Ward 1, N Freudenberg 1, A Radosh 1, D Des Jarlais 1
PMCID: PMC1380965  PMID: 9314792

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study examines the impact of the condom availability program in New York City public high schools by comparing rates of sexual activity and condom use for New York students and similar students in Chicago. METHODS: A total of 7119 students from 12 randomly selected New York schools and 5738 students from 10 Chicago schools participated in a cross-sectional survey. RESULTS: New York students, compared with Chicago students, reported equal rates of sexual activity but higher rates of condom use at last intercourse (odds ratio [OR] = 1.36). For higher-risk students (those with three or more sexual partners in the past 6 months), condom use was greater in New York (OR = 1.85) than in Chicago. CONCLUSIONS: Condom availability has a modest but significant effect on condom use and does not increase rates of sexual activity. These findings suggest that school-based condom availability can lower the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases for urban teenagers in the United States.

Full text

PDF
1427

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Anderson J. E., Kann L., Holtzman D., Arday S., Truman B., Kolbe L. HIV/AIDS knowledge and sexual behavior among high school students. Fam Plann Perspect. 1990 Nov-Dec;22(6):252–255. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Frost J. J., Forrest J. D. Understanding the impact of effective teenage pregnancy prevention programs. Fam Plann Perspect. 1995 Sep-Oct;27(5):188–195. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Guttmacher S., Lieberman L., Wai H. C., Ward D., Radosh A., Rafferty Y., Freudenberg N. Gender differences in attitudes and use of condom availability programs among sexually active students in New York City public high schools. J Am Med Womens Assoc. 1995 May-Aug;50(3-4):99–102. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Guttmacher S., Lieberman L., Ward D., Radosh A., Rafferty Y., Freudenberg N. Parents' attitudes and beliefs about HIV/AIDS prevention with condom availability in New York City public high schools. J Sch Health. 1995 Mar;65(3):101–106. doi: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.1995.tb03357.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Kerr D. L. AIDS update. Condom availability in New York City schools. J Sch Health. 1991 Aug;61(6):279–280. doi: 10.1111/j.1746-1561.1991.tb07405.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Kirby D., Korpi M., Barth R. P., Cagampang H. H. The impact of the Postponing Sexual Involvement curriculum among youths in California. Fam Plann Perspect. 1997 May-Jun;29(3):100–108. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Kirby D., Short L., Collins J., Rugg D., Kolbe L., Howard M., Miller B., Sonenstein F., Zabin L. S. School-based programs to reduce sexual risk behaviors: a review of effectiveness. Public Health Rep. 1994 May-Jun;109(3):339–360. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Moore J. R., Daily L., Collins J., Kann L., Dalmat M., Truman B. I., Kolbe L. J. Progress in efforts to prevent the spread of HIV infection among youth. Public Health Rep. 1991 Nov-Dec;106(6):678–686. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Rotheram-Borus M. J., Mahler K. A., Rosario M. AIDS prevention with adolescents. AIDS Educ Prev. 1995 Aug;7(4):320–336. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Sellers D. E., McGraw S. A., McKinlay J. B. Does the promotion and distribution of condoms increase teen sexual activity? Evidence from an HIV prevention program for Latino youth. Am J Public Health. 1994 Dec;84(12):1952–1959. doi: 10.2105/ajph.84.12.1952. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Sonenstein F. L., Pleck J. H., Ku L. C. Sexual activity, condom use and AIDS awareness among adolescent males. Fam Plann Perspect. 1989 Jul-Aug;21(4):152–158. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Stryker J., Samuels S. E., Smith M. D. Condom availability in schools: the need for improved program evaluations. Am J Public Health. 1994 Dec;84(12):1901–1906. doi: 10.2105/ajph.84.12.1901. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from American Journal of Public Health are provided here courtesy of American Public Health Association

RESOURCES