THE BENEFITS OF SCHOOL-BASED CONDOM AVAILABILITY - CROSS-SECTIONAL ANALYSIS OF A COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAM

Objectives: To analyze the benefits of a school-based condom availabil ity program relative to the risks that such a program may incur. Metho ds: A confidentially-administered survey instrument was completed by 1 52 randomly selected high-school students (approximately 14% of the en tire student population). Results: The respondents had a mean age of 1 5.9 years (range: 14-19 years) and a proportionate gender distribution . Ninety-three percent of all respondents had ''heard of'' the school' s program and knew from whom they could receive condoms. Twenty-six pe rcent of the respondents had received condoms from the program with 67 % using them. Of those receiving condoms but not using them, more than half did not need them, owing to absence of anticipated sexual activi ty. Of the nonreceivers, 53% had never had sexual intercourse and 27% received condoms from other sources. The benefit of the program by aid ing a sexually-active student was found to be more than three times as great as the risk of encouraging a nonsexually active student to have sexual intercourse (RR = 3.2; 95% C.I. = 2.1, 4.9). The prevalence of sexual activity among all respondents was not significantly higher th an the state's average based on gender and age (59.8% vs. 54.5%; z = 1 .24, p > .05, n.s.). Conclusion: Given the lack of increased sexual ac tivity and the favorable benefit-risk ratio, we conclude that school-b ased condom availability is successfully utilized by sexually-active a dolescents and may be an effective means to reduce potentially harmful outcomes, such as unintended pregnancy and sexually-transmitted disea ses.