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The Central Okanagan Board of Education will consider Wednesday evening whether or not to allow for a pilot condom program to take place in local high schools.
Interior Health has proposed the project on a three month trial basis to supply condoms, information cards and questionnaires to students. If successful, the project would be in six secondary schools within the Interior Health region.
“Research has clearly and consistently shown that the promotion and distribution of condoms to adolescents does not result in earlier or more frequent sexual activity,” said Renee Liddicoat with Community Integrated Health Services with Interior Health. “Condom distribution programs can significantly increase condom use among teens that are already sexually active.”
The success of the pilot project will be measured by the student questionnaire results, the number of condoms and cards taken, and the pre and post school champion questionnaires. Results are expected to be shared following the competition of the pilot, if approved by the board.
The goal of the project is to not only increase condom use, but reduce the number of sexually transmitted infections and have considerable savings related to medical costs associated with STI infections.
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