In light of the previous news that abstinence-only sex education does not prevent young people from having sex I offer the following news story. Information about condoms is inaccurate for these same programs.
From what I recall, condoms have varying levels of effectiveness against STDs and pregnancy depending on proper usage. So rather than tell students this, abstinence-only programs seem to adopt the worst case scenario to scare the bejeezus out of students. If the effectiveness of condoms vary based on improper usage, then this is a strong reason why we should teach students how to properly use them; so that prophylactics are as effective as possible.
By the way, I thought it was interesting that condoms were 80-87% effective in preventing HIV transmission. Hey, remember that study released in PLOS Medicine? The one that said circumcision was 61% effective in preventing HIV prevention? Just in males? Who are heterosexual? If engaging in vaginal intercourse? Do you remember that one? The one in which they said that 61% was "equivalent to ... a vaccine of high efficacy"? Even though we know that "[m]ost routine childhood vaccines are effective for 85% to 95% of recipients"? Yeah that study? I wonder what they think of the fact that condoms are 80-87% effective at preventing HIV transmission? Plus the fact that they are also effective at reducing transmission of other STDs? For both males and females? Oh, and homosexuals too? Oh, and regardless of the form of intercourse engaged in? Oh, and plus they help prevent that whole pregnancy thing, which I am pretty sure circumcision does not?*
*Before any one gets all over me, yes I think they are on to something with this study. But this is being touted as some sort of miracle cure that will wipe out AIDS in Africa. In reality its benefit is limited, and there are much better alternatives currently available.
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