S.F. considers giving condoms away to middle schoolers

A proposal would allow San Francisco public schools to distribute condoms to middle school students in conjunction with a one-on-one information session. A proposal would allow San Francisco public schools to distribute condoms to middle school students in conjunction with a one-on-one information session. Photo: Wright Photo: Wright Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close S.F. considers giving condoms away to middle schoolers 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Public school nurses and social workers in San Francisco would be allowed to hand out condoms to individual middle school students under a proposal before the district’s school board, expanding school-based access to the contraceptive to younger teens and preteens.

High school students can already get free condoms in city schools. The new proposal would also take away their parents’ ability to opt out of the program.

Giving middle school staff the ability to hand out condoms is critical, district officials said Monday, given that at least 5 percent of students in sixth, seventh and eighth grades have had sexual intercourse, according to student surveys conducted by the district. More than a quarter of high school students report having had sex.

The proposal by Superintendent Richard Carranza would authorize condom distribution “in conjunction with a session with a school nurse or social worker to identify risk factors and provide referrals or resources as necessary.”

The one-on-one session would also include “information about condom use, risks and effectiveness.” Students would be advised that abstinence is “the only 100 percent effective method of preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections,” according to the proposed policy.

Critics of such programs worry that providing condoms could encourage sexual activity, but district officials said that is not the case.

“The only thing we are encouraging is that students make heathy decisions,” said school board President Matt Haney. “There is no research that (shows) providing condoms in schools increases sexual activity. We’ve had condoms in high schools since 1990, yet surveys show sexual activity among S.F. high school students is about half the national average.”

Student participation would be voluntary. High school and middle school parents would be advised of the existence of the program, but would not be able to exclude their child from it. Currently, parents have the opt-out option in high schools.

The proposal notes that there are no laws limiting the distribution of condoms to minors.

The San Francisco Department of Public Health has endorsed the proposal, which will likely head to the school board for a final vote later this month.

“As the (sexually transmitted disease) controller in San Francisco, I know all too well that San Francisco has among the highest rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis of any city in the United States,” said Dr. Susan Philip, the department’s deputy health officer and director, in her letter of support. “Condoms are highly effective prevention against STDs, HIV and unwanted pregnancy.”

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker