• Kaplan DW, Feinstein RA, Fisher MM, Klein JD, Olmedo LF, Rome ES, Yancy WS, Adams Hillard PJ, Sacks D, Pearson G, Frankowski BL, Piazza Hurley T. Condom use by adolescents. Pediatrics 2001 Jun;107(6):1463-9. [88 references]

This is the current release of the guideline. This guideline updates a previously issued version (American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Committee on Adolescence. Condom availability for youth. Pediatrics 1995;95:281-5).

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Policies are reviewed every 3 years by the authoring body. The AAP review process involves an evaluation of new literature that has emerged since the original publication date. Following this review, a recommendation is made that the policy be retired, revised, or reaffirmed without change. Until the Board of Directors approves a revision or reaffirmation, or retires a statement, the current policy remains in effect.

1. Abstaining from intercourse should be encouraged for adolescents, because it is the surest way to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including human immune deficiency virus (HIV), and pregnancy. Adolescents who have been sexually active previously should also be counseled regarding the benefits of postponing future sexual relationships.
2. Pediatricians are urged to actively support and encourage the correct and consistent use of reliable contraception and condoms by adolescents who are sexually active or contemplating sexual activity. The responsibility of males as well as females in preventing unwanted pregnancies and STDs should be emphasized. Pediatricians need to be actively involved in community programs directed toward this goal.
3. In the interest of public health, restrictions and barriers to condom availability should be removed.
4. Schools should be considered appropriate sites for the availability of condoms, because they contain large adolescent populations and may potentially provide a comprehensive array of related educational and health care resources.
5. To be most effective, condom availability programs should be developed through a collaborative community process and accompanied by comprehensive sequential sexuality education, which is ideally part of a K-12 health education program, with parental involvement, counseling, and positive peer support.
6. Pediatricians can actively help raise awareness among parents and communities that making condoms available to adolescents does not increase the rate of adolescent sexual activity and that condoms, despite their limitations, can decrease rates of unintended pregnancy and acquisition of STDs and HIV infection.
7. Research is encouraged to identify methods to increase correct and consistent condom use by sexually active adolescents and to evaluate effectiveness of strategies to promote condom use, including condom education and availability programs in schools.

None provided

The type of evidence supporting each recommendation is not specifically stated.

• Kaplan DW, Feinstein RA, Fisher MM, Klein JD, Olmedo LF, Rome ES, Yancy WS, Adams Hillard PJ, Sacks D, Pearson G, Frankowski BL, Piazza Hurley T. Condom use by adolescents. Pediatrics 2001 Jun;107(6):1463-9. [88 references]

Not applicable: The guideline was not adapted from another source.

2001 Jun (reaffirmed 2004 Oct)

American Academy of Pediatrics - Medical Specialty Society

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

Committee on Adolescence

Committee on Adolescence (2000-2001): David W. Kaplan, MD, MPH, Chairperson, Ronald A. Feinstein, MD; Martin M. Fisher, MD; Jonathan D. Klein, MD, MPH; Luis F. Olmedo, MD; Ellen S. Rome, MD, MPH; W. Samuel Yancy, MD

Liaisons: Paula J. Adams Hillard, MD, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Diane Sacks, MD, Canadian Paediatric Society; Glen Pearson, MD, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Section Liaison: Barbara L. Frankowski, MD, MPH, Section on School Health

Staff: Tammy Piazza Hurley

Not stated

This is the current release of the guideline. This guideline updates a previously issued version (American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Committee on Adolescence. Condom availability for youth. Pediatrics 1995;95:281-5).

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Policies are reviewed every 3 years by the authoring body. The AAP review process involves an evaluation of new literature that has emerged since the original publication date. Following this review, a recommendation is made that the policy be retired, revised, or reaffirmed without change. Until the Board of Directors approves a revision or reaffirmation, or retires a statement, the current policy remains in effect.

None available

None available

This summary was completed by ECRI on May 7, 2002. The information was verified by the guideline developer on June 11, 2002.

This National Guideline Clearinghouse summary is based on the original guideline, which is subject to the guideline developer's copyright restrictions. Please contact the Permissions Editor, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), 141 Northwest Point Blvd, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007.