An argument against distributing condoms in high schools is that it leads to increased sexual activity. A recent study of over 4,100 high school students found this isnŐt the case.
Students who have access to condoms and instruction in their use were no more likely to have sexual intercourse than students at schools without condom distribution programs. Students with access to condoms were twice as likely to use them when having intercourse than students who donŐt. Another benefit of condom distribution programs is that students in those schools received more HIV instruction.
The pregnancy rate in both groups of students was about the same. The reason may be that students with access to condoms were less likely to use other means of birth control.
American Journal of Public Health, 6/03.
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