Why Condom Use is Important
By Kai Hosoi
Let's talk about sex, baby. Most of us have had it. More than likely, all of us will eventually, even if it must be paid for. We do the deed because it feels good, and because we're biologically wired to procreate. But sex can be dangerous, and I'm not just talking about for those into S&M. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, “the percentage of all high school students (9th - 12th grade) whi report ever having sex has declined. At the same time, among teens who are sexually active, rates of contraceptive use – including condom use – have increased.” Obviously, the best way to protect yourself from STDs and unplanned pregnancy is to abstain. However, there is a safer way to have sex, and that is through condom use.
I. Chlamydia is the most common STI in America. (CDC)
A. In the year 2006, 1,030,911 cases were reported.
B. Only one year prior, there were only 976,445 cases.
C. Most cases are undiagnosed, and about 2.8 million people will become infected in the next year.
II. For the past eight years, the amount of cases of syphilis has been on an incline. (CDC)
A. The amount of cases of syphilis went down during the 1990s.
B. In the year 2000, it had reached an all time low.
C. It is unclear as to why there has been a rise in new cases of syphilis.
1. Only 8,724 infections were reported eight years ago, in 2000.
2. In 2006, it was reported that the number of infections increased to 9,756.
- HIV/AIDS is one of the most common, and most preventable, STIs we face today. (Care Resource)
A. Florida ranks third in the nation for the highest number of people infected with AIDS.
B. About 10.5% of the entire nation's AIDS population lives in Florida. (Community Foundation)
C. AIDS has killed 25 million people around the world.
D. There are currently 39.5 million people living with the disease around the world.
E. There are over 400,000 new case of HIV reported each year in the United States.
F. About 1.2 million people are living with the disease in America.
G. There have been over 550,000 American lives taken by this disease.
- AIDS is a global pandemic. (until.org)
A. It is estimated that more than 22 million have been killed by AIDS across the globe.
B. Approximately 42 million people live with the disease worldwide.
C. About 74% of those infected live in Sub-Saharan Africa.
D. There are 19 million women infected with the AIDS virus.
E. AIDS have been called “the disease of the young people,” with half of the 5 million new cases being reported by people age 15 to 24.
- Teen Pregnancy is also a major problem. (Kaiser Family Foundation)
A. The teen pregnancy rate has dropped by 28%.
B. However, there are still 84 girls for every 1,000 that are sexually active that become pregnant.
C. Some reports say that white girls are least likely to get pregnant.
- Pregnancy rates in African Americans is 154 per 1,000 sexually active girls.
- Pregnancy rates for Latinas is 140 per 1,000 sexually active girls.
- Lack of sexual education, both at home and in schools, is a contributing issue towards lack of condom use.
A. It was reported in 2002 that about 1/3 of teens had not been taught about any method of contraception. (Guttmacher Institute)
B. Also in 2002, it was reported that 21% of girls and 24% of boys had received abstinence only education. (Guttmacher Institute)
C. Only about 1/3 of sexually active black males and 1/2 of sexually active black females received any form of contraceptives. (Guttmacher Institute)
D. Lack of edcuation is also to blame for the high amount of AIDS cases in Africa. (Science in Africa)
- Children and virgins are being raped in Africa because it is believed that virginity can cure HIV/AIDS.
- In 2001, there were an estimated 21,000 cases of child and infant rape reported.
- Also reported in 2001, there were an estimated 37,000 cases of adult rape.
- Because of these rapes, the survivors of these horrible atrocities end up becoming infected with the disease.
- The spread of STIs and teen pregnancy is easily preveneable.
A. First, whenever you have sex, wear a condom, especially if you are hooking up with someone you just met.
B. Make sure to get tested for all STDs at least once every 6 months.
C. Donate to charities, such as the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation at pedaids.org or CARE at care.org.
D. Write Congress about providing better sex education in schools, and to eliminate abstinence-only programs.
E. Show your support by wearing a red ribbon on Nations AIDS awareness Day, which is December 1st of every year.
By human nature, we are pleasure seekers. Clearly, one of the most pleasurable things we can do is to have sex. There is a certain responsibility we all have, however, when it comes to having a sexual relationship. We must wear condoms. Condoms prevent unwanted pregnancies, and they also help to prevent the spread of STDs such as herpes, syphilis, hepititis, and, worst of all, AIDS. And so, I leave you with these tidbits of wisdom - “don't be a fool, wrap your tool!”
References
Care Resource. “Key Statistics.” cited at: <careresource.org/stats.html>
Center for Disease Control. “STD Surveillance 2006.” cite at: <cdc.gov/stats/trends2006.htm>
Community Foundation. “Our Leadership Work: HIV/AIDS.” cited at: <cfbroward.org/cfb/ourleadershipwork/hivaids/tabid/65/default.aspx>
Guttmacher Institute. “Facts on Sex Education in the United States.” cited at: <guttmacher/org/pubs/fb_sexed2006/html>
Kaiser Family Foundation. “U.S. Teen Sexual Activity Fact Sheet.” January 2005. cited at: <kff.org/youthhivstds/upload/u-s/teen-sexual-activity-fact-sheet.pdf>.
Science in Africa. “HIV/AIDS: the Stats, the Virgin Cure, and Infant Rape.” Mike Earl-Taylor. Cited at: <scienceinafrica.co.za/2002/april/virgin.html
Until There's a Cure. “Vital Statistics.” cited at: <until.org/statistics.shtml>
