Condom availability in middle schools: evidence and recommendations.

Literature on condomavailability inmiddle schools is sparse, because most publications focus on high schools and colleges. However, the age of pubertal onset has continually decreased during the past several decades because of improvements in nutrition and overall health (Rosen, 2004). Early onset of puberty has been shown to be associated with a variety of risk-taking behaviors, such as alcohol and drug use before age 14 years and sexual debut and unprotected sex before age 16 years (Deardorff, Gonzales, Christopher, Roosa, & Millsap, 2005; Downing & Bellis, 2009). Sexualmaturation normally occurs before cognitive maturation. Thus early adolescents engaging in sexual activity are at risk for unwanted health outcomes, such as unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which they are not cognitively mature enough to prevent or manage. This policy brief will examine the adolescent development trajectory, the context of early sexual debut, and current policies in some middle schools to address these issues. Evidence-based recommendations for stakeholders to consider in creating and revising policies on condom availability are then offered.