Factors Associated With Parent Support for Condom Education and Availability

Abstract

Expanding condom-related knowledge and skills and reducing barriers to condom use have the potential to help reduce pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections among youth. These goals are sometimes addressed through condom education and availability (CEA) programs as part of sexuality education in school. Parents are a key constituency in efforts to implement such programs. A representative statewide sample of households with children (N = 1,093) in California was employed to examine parent support for CEA and the potential influences of demographics (gender, age, and Hispanic ethnicity), sociodemographics (education, religious affiliation, religious service attendance, and political ideology), and condom-related beliefs (belief in condom effectiveness and belief that teens who use condoms during sex are being responsible) on parent support for CEA. The parents in our sample reported a high level of support for CEA (M = 3.23 on a 4-point scale) and believing in a high level of condom effectiveness (M = 3.36 on a 4-point scale). In addition, 84% of the parents agreed that teens who use condoms during sex are being responsible. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that parents who were younger, Hispanic, with a lower educational attainment, without a religious affiliation, less religiously observant, and politically liberal were more supportive of CEA. After controlling for these demographic and sociodemographic factors, condom effectiveness and responsibility beliefs each added independently to the predictability of parent support for CEA. These findings suggest that parent education related to condom effectiveness could help increase support for school-based CEA programs.

Support for Offering Sexual Health Services Through School‐Based Health Clinics

“…Overall, the community was supportive of testing for STIs/HIV, treatment for STIs/HIV, and provision of condoms to students in both MS and HS. These findings are consistent with the sparse literature showing support for distribution of condoms and contraceptives by the schools/SBHCs . Fewer participants supported offering these 3 services in MS than in HS.…”

“…Although recent studies on support for sexual health services are lacking, there are some studies supporting these findings. Several studies have found that those who identify as politically liberal are more likely to support condom education and access in schools than those who identify as politically conservative, while another found greater support for comprehensive sexuality education among those who identify as politically liberal . In the current study, those in the middle age range (40‐59) were less likely to support STI/HIV testing, STI/HIV treatment, and condom distribution in MS.…”

“…In the current study, those in the middle age range (40‐59) were less likely to support STI/HIV testing, STI/HIV treatment, and condom distribution in MS. Previous studies have shown that younger parents are more likely to support condom education and access . Overall, the few differences by demographic variables shows that there is broad support for sexual health services in the community.…”

“…Likewise, little research was found in the past decade assessing support for condom availability in schools. Two studies have shown that 60% of parents agreed condoms should be made available in high schools …”