10/09/99 Media Release DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO FINANCE SELF-DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOUR AMONGST LEARNERS In response to the Department of Education’s decision to start distributing condoms at schools, Doctors For Life would like to issue a strong word of warning. We all agree that multiple partners and sexual promiscuity amongst teenagers lies at the root of the problem. The act of giving a condom to a young person (be it an already promiscuous or an abstaining teenager) has a powerful symbolism. Can the Department of Education honestly try to encourage a change in sexual life style, when they are the very source of the "tool" that is purely used by teenagers to live promiscuously? If we are going to demand that young people exercise personal responsibility and if we say that they must suffer the consequences of their personal choices, then what are they to think when, in the next breath we give formal sanction to a project that facilitates promiscuity? Indeed, the teenager is partially financed to continue this self-destructive behaviour. Our goal should be to eliminate dangerous behaviour, not to find a cleaner, safer way of doing it. Right from the beginning, condoms have been the main thrust of the AIDS prevention strategies of the government. Over the past 10 years the government has, to a certain extent, changed their approach following pressure from DFL and other organisations promoting family values. At present the approach of the Department of Health is the "ABC approach"; (A standing for abstinence, B for behaviour change and C for condoms). DFL is delighted about the change, and the introduction of the "A" and the "B" part of the strategy. We have found however, that the condom message confuses the youth and nullifies the impact of the other two messages. It also raises an important ethical problem because people can be morally compelled to support a lesser harm [a certain amount of increase in promiscuity] in order to overcome a greater harm [AIDS]. This approach constitutes a reckless experiment with human beings. On the unproved assumption that these programs prevent the spread of AIDS, teenagers are actively encouraged to continue having sex and are exempt from being reprimanded about their life styles. We feel it is high time to admit failure and change the approach. Past experience and numerous studies on these kind of AIDS prevention strategies, have shown that they indeed promote promiscuity and often give the youth a false sense of security – usually the learners are not informed of the 20% failure rate of condoms. Proof of the effect of a mixed message can be found in the fact that, time and again the government has had to admit total failure of existing programs to stem a rampant AIDS epidemic that has become the fastest growing in the world. This stand in stark contrast to the roaring success of abstinence based programs that present a clear message. The success of the AIDS programme does not rest in a technical device but lies in the realm of value systems. We want to ask the department of Education to re-consider whether the hoped-for reduction in AIDS justifies sending a mixed message that will undermine the credibility of all society’s other behaviour change efforts – especially those preventative education efforts aimed at dissuading young people who use "government issued" condoms to stop their dangerous behaviour. For more information contact: Dr A. van Eeden: (031) 764-0443 |
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