A condom distribution program for adolescents: the findings of a feasibility study

Condom Promotion: The Need for a Social Marketing Program in America's Inner Cities

Current marketing efforts by commercial condom manufacturers are directed at White consumers and therefore neglect inner city Blacks and Latinos as potential users of condoms. This paper reviews “social marketing programs” developed in Third World countries to promote condoms as a contraceptive, often with the financial assistance of the United States or other governments. This technology — which includes product, pricing, distribution, and promotional considerations — should be applied in the United States, especially to reach poor minority populations that are currently at greater risk for teenage pregnancy, AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases.

A community level syphilis prevention programme: outcome data from a controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

This study investigated the impact of a small media campaign to reduce syphilis through testing, treatment, and condom use in two urban predominantly African-American communities with high syphilis rates.

METHODS

Data were collected from intervention and comparison zip codes using cross sectional street intercept interviews at baseline and 2 years later (n = 1630) following a small media syphilis prevention campaign with role model story posters, billboards, and other merchandise. Community businesses and a community based organisation served as partners, distributing condoms and small media.

RESULTS

Comparing intervention with comparison zip codes, there were significant increases in condom use in last sexual act, and some aspects of knowledge of syphilis. However, there was significant cross contamination of media impact, with respondents in the comparison zip code seeing an average of two media items compared with three in the intervention zip code. Media exposure was associated with significant increases in knowledge of syphilis, testing, and condom use.

CONCLUSIONS

Targeted community based small media interventions using community partners for distribution are effective in increasing syphilis knowledge, testing, and condom use.

Adolescent contraception: nonhormonal methods

A comparison of the advantages, disadvantages, and costs of each method is presented in Table 1. Barrier methods of contraception offer adolescents protection against both pregnancy and STDs, but innovative approaches are needed to enhance availability and acceptability. Condom use in conjunction with a vaginal spermicide would provide optimal protection. The "female condom" may prove to be an effective alternative. Diaphragms and cervical caps can be prescribed for well-educated, highly motivated adolescents comfortable with insertion and removal. The vaginal contraceptive sponge provides many of the advantages of the diaphragm and cap without the need for an examination and fitting and also may be used as a backup method with the condom. Vaginal spermicides used alone are significantly less effective than in combination with a mechanical barrier. The IUD is not considered appropriate for most adolescents due to its association with an increased risk of pelvic infection. Periodic abstinence requires accurate identification of the fertile period, extensive education, and partner cooperation. Sterilization is rarely considered an option in adolescents. Alternate forms of sexual expression are available to adolescents who choose to abstain from intercourse.

Personal protection against sexually transmitted diseases

Primary prevention of sexually transmitted diseases has received little emphasis in control programs. To evaluate the effectiveness of prevention strategies, we reviewed the world's literature on this topic. Use of condoms and spermicides greatly reduces the risk of gonorrhea, and barrier methods are practical and acceptable. Certain systemic antibiotics are effective, but for practical reasons, their use cannot be recommended. Washing or urinating after sexual exposure does not appear to protect against infection. Although the effectiveness of modifying sexual behavior to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases has not been evaluated, many people have changed or are willing to change their behavior. Even if preventive measures are used consistently by only a minority of persons at risk, rates of sexually transmitted diseases would decline rapidly. In this era of sexually transmitted diseases that are not readily cured by antibiotics, use of effective preventive measures should be strongly encouraged.

Contraceptive counseling for the younger adolescent woman: a suggested solution to the problem

The younger adolescent woman seeking contraceptive counseling presents clinicians with special problems specific to her age group. These include long-term physiological considerations plus psychological and social dynamics. An individualized clinic program, with emphasis on backup contraceptive methods, is suggested as a comprehensive solution.

Contraception in adolescence--a review of the literature

During the last 10 years an increasing number of pregnancies have been noted in adolescents. The children of these pregnancies are often at risk. The problem was discussed in a meeting on Pregnancy and Abortion in Adolescence in 1974, held at WHO headquarters, Geneva. An annotated bibliography was prepared for that meeting, from which this review originated. The literature covered a wide range of subjects, but an attempt has been made in this review to discuss the problem in six main sections: social aspects; sexual attitudes and behaviour; sex education and information; contraceptive services for adolescents; medical and clinical aspects and legislation. Quite a number of teenagers are sexually active even in their early teens but often keep to one partner. Their use of contraception is poor, partly because of a lack of education and information. Young people are demanding better information and services, which would probably best be provided through special teenage clinics. So far, there have been very few investigative studies dealing exclusively with adolescent use of different contraceptive methods. Methods of contraception available at present are often unsuitable for use by adolescents, and further research on the problem is needed.