"I think it is important to have condoms and information available so that teens can make well-informed decisions about sex."
The Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP) reports that 29 percent of HIV-positive adolescents in the United States live in New York City. New York laws require schools to make condoms available to high school students to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, as well as pregnancy.
After reports of condom shortages in schools, CHAMP issued a challenge to New York City teens: Can you find condoms in your school? Our TAG team took on the task, and found mixed results:
Olga — Brooklyn, NY I heard that you could get condoms in my health class and in my English class. They told us you could get condoms in the health room and from the guidance counselor. When I went, they asked if I knew how to use the condom, and they gave me eight LifeStyles condoms that expire in June 2008. I felt very comfortable getting condoms, and I felt like no one in the health room cared that I was getting a condom. They just seemed to care that you were having safer sex. I feel like my school does a good job with sex ed. Safer sex is everywhere. We have an HIV/AIDS class that every student must attend once a semester. They give out pamphlets and hang posters on the walls and we have the health room. I think sex education in school is awesome. It really teaches you about every STI there is in the world and the consequences are of not having safer sex.
Sajjad — Queens, NY I heard about our health room during a sex ed class. It is open every day from 9:00 to 3:00. When I went, I got one Trojan condom. I felt very comfortable getting a condom, and there was information on STIs and HIV/AIDS available. So far I have had about six classes on HIV/AIDS in high school. I think these are really important because they teach us to be safe in the future.
Joshua — Bronx, NY I couldn't figure out if they offer condoms at my schools. I asked my dean for condoms, and he didn't pay any attention to me, and it was very uncomfortable. I felt like I was given a hard time for asking, and that it seemed like a lot of work to get a condom. Later someone told me that I could get a condom if I had a signed letter from a parent saying I could get one, but the dean I asked did not give me this information — another student did. We don't get sex education classes. They just let the books do the talking. After asking one person and having a negative experience, I wouldn't feel comfortable asking anyone else.
Adam — New York, NY (college student) I found out you could get condoms from the RA's [resident advisor's] room or the health center. I head about the campus health center through information distributed by the university. I went to my RA's room and got one LifeStyles condom. I felt really comfortable asking for the condom and feel that my school does a really good job of educating about sex. We have a peer sexual health educator on my dorm floor, and there is lots of information available for students.
Sifat — Brooklyn, NY My school has a room that distributes health information and condoms. It is called the health resource room. It is on the second floor of the building and is open twice a day. I heard about it in health class my freshman year. You can go in and get condoms. I didn't get a condom, though, because sophomores, juniors, and seniors need to have a form filled out by a parent that they gave out when we were freshmen. The form asks if we can get condoms. My parents didn't fill out the form, so I couldn't get a condom. Freshmen aren't allowed to obtain any condoms even if they have their parents' permission. I think this is a bad idea because many younger teens are sexually active.
Uwa — Brooklyn, NY I did not get a condom because I go to a Catholic school, and they do not provide them. If you asked for one and they gave it to you, they think it might look like they're promoting sex at a young age. I think sex ed is important because it will help teenagers to become more aware of the different kinds of diseases that are out there and how to protect themselves from them. But they don't do this at my school.
Eliza — New York, NY I asked the school and found out I could get a condom from the guidance office. The guidance counselor gave me one Trojan-Enz condom and gave me instructions for using it. It was a really uncomfortable experience. The guidance counselor seemed annoyed that I was asking for a condom and said, "Sometimes I ask who you are having sex with but I won't do that now." I felt like I was committing a crime when I asked for a condom. My school does not do adequate sex education. In my old school in New Jersey we had a lot of sex education classes, but now I don't really get any lessons. I think sex education is absolutely important.
Arielle — New York, NY I heard from friends that I could get a condom from my guidance counselor. I didn't have to give my name or identification, and she explained how to use the condom. I got one Trojan-Enz condom that expires in April 2008. I was pretty comfortable getting the condom and didn't feel like the guidance counselor gave me a hard time about asking for it. I think it is important to have condoms and information available so that teens can make well-informed decisions about sex.
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