Support grows for condom education

A recent survey conducted by the IU Center for Survey Research shows that 77 percent of Indiana residents favor condom education in high schools.\nThe survey showed little change in this view over the past 10 years, according to a statement. It also indicated that eight out of 10 hoosiers believe all teenagers, regardless of whether they are sexually active, need information about how to use condoms correctly. Additionally, 94 percent said this information should be medically accurate and 71 percent agree the curriculum should be determined by the majority of local parents.\nThe survey also shows that 71 percent of Indiana residents also agree that classroom instruction should include condoms so students can see and touch them.\nBill Yarber, an IU professor of Applied Health Science, presented the study at a conference Nov. 6 in San Antonio. He said 517 people were surveyed from July to October of this year about condom education in public schools. He said this study is important because everyone needs to expand the message about the use of condoms. \n"It is not only important to emphasize consistent condom use, but correct condom use," Yarber said. \nAccording to a survey done by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention in Indiana, 14 percent of sexually active people ages 18 to 64 said they used condoms in 2001.\nAssociate Director of the Kinsey Institute Stephanie Sanders said some of the research is showing increased support for using condoms to prevent unwanted pregnancies and STDs.\n"There is fairly good evidence that for a number of STDs, that condoms, when used correctly and consistently, can reduce the risk of transmission," Sanders said. \nSarah Franklin, principal of Bloomington High School North, said teaching condom use should be part of the state-mandated curriculum. \n"As long as we continue to emphasize that abstinence is the safest way to prevent disease and pregnancy, then we can teach condom use," she said.\nMark Fletcher, principal of Bloomington High School South, said the primary importance is on abstinence. \n"We also teach our students about STDs, and that is where condom education comes into play," Fletcher said.\nYarber said schools are making decisions about what they are going to teach to students. \n"I thought it would be good to find out what the public thinks about it," Yarber said. "There have been efforts to discredit condoms and some exaggeration of failure rates." \nSanders said, as part of sex education, teachers should also teach students to not give in to unwanted sexual advancement.\n"People often worry about (promoting condom use promotes sex) and there is really no evidence to support that," Sanders said. "I think it is a fear and an unjustified fear." \n-- Contact staff writer Mike Malik at mjmalik@indiana.edu.