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A National Survey of Superintendents' Perceptions of Condom Availability in High Schools

by Lauren N. Maziarz

Institution: University of Toledo
Department: Health Education
Degree: PhD
Year: 2014
Keywords: Health Education; Public Health; Public Health Education; condom availability; teenage pregnancy; perceptions of superintendents; condom perceptions; condom beliefs
Posted:
Record ID: 2043572
Full text PDF: http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1416224534


Abstract

The United States continues to have one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy among similar, industrialized nations. One postulated reason for the continued increase is a lack of education on proper condom use and/or a lack of access to condoms. Secondary schools are in a unique position to allow condom availability programs, thus increasing access to condoms in the teenage population. Due to the controversial nature of making condoms available in public schools, superintendents and other policy makers may be hesitant to enact such a program due to perceived backlash from parents and the community as a whole. Thus, the purpose of this research study was to examine superintendents' perceptions of condom availability in district high schools. Surveys were mailed to a stratified random sample of superintendents (n=772) across the US with a final survey response rate of 40.4% (n=297). The majority of responders were male (69%), Caucasian (89%), 50 years of age or older (67%), had a degree other than a Doctorate, and had one to five years of experience. Most identified as politically independent (34%), socially moderate (54%), and non-denominational Christian (33%). Respondents came from districts that were located in the Midwest (27%), deemed medium in size (36%), and located in a town (31%).The most commonly reported moderate or major barriers to condom availability in schools were community opposition (88%), lack of parental support (86%), undesirable media attention (81%), and lack of school board support (81%). The most commonly reported moderate or major benefits to making condoms available were potential decreased teen pregnancy rates in the district (55%), decreased STD rates in the district (53%), and increased health of students (51%). Both barriers and benefits differed significantly by superintendent and district demographics. Barriers differed by the following: geographic location, political affiliation, political orientation, and race/ethnicity of the superintendent. Benefits differed by the following: size of the district, political orientation, and perceived school support for prevention of HIV/AIDS, STDS, and teen pregnancy. In terms of condom beliefs, negative beliefs predicted 24% of the variance in perceived barriers while both positive and negative beliefs predicted 16% of the variance in perceived benefits. Notably, respondents who opposed condom availability perceived STDs and HIV/AIDS to be less significant problems than those who did not oppose condom availability. Superintendents who perceived the school to play less of a significant role in prevention opposed condom availability more so than those who perceived the school to play a larger role in prevention. These results show the need for more education and awareness as it relates to superintendents' perceptions of condom availability. Since positive and negative condom beliefs were found to be significant predictors of both benefits and barriers, addressing these beliefs may prove to be beneficial in addressing overall barriers and…

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