Condoms in schools don't promote sex: study

Making condoms available to high school students does not make them more likely to have sex, United States researchers report.

"Condom availability was not associated with greater sexual activity among adolescents, but was associated with greater condom use among those who were already sexually active, a highly positive result," said Susan Blake, of the Department of Prevention and Community Health at George Washington University, in Washington DC.

"When condoms are available in schools and are successfully used by sexually active adolescents, they may be an effective means of preventing potentially harmful outcomes such as HIV, sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy."

Susan Blake and colleagues analysed data from the 1995 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behaviour Survey of more than 4000 students. About 20 per cent went to schools where condoms were available.

The researchers say in next month's American Journal of Public Health that about half of the teenagers reported they had sex, with nearly 60 per cent saying they used a condom the last time.

But pregnancy rates were the same in schools with condoms and those without.

- REUTERS