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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Joseph E. Balog, PhD, Health Science, State University of New York, College at Brockport, 350 New Campus Drive, 19 Hartwell Hall, Brockport, NY 14420, 585-395-5474, jbalog@brockport.edu

The two main purposes of this presentation are to: (1) review the literature on the effectiveness of abstinence-only and abstinence-plus sexuality education programs, and school-based condom availability programs; and (2) present a subsequent ethical argument that morally justifies the implementation of school-based condom availability programs. This presentation demonstrates how in the field of Health Education the pursuit of health and healthy lifestyles links scientific interests about reducing mortality and morbidity with philosophical interests about promoting morality. A principle-based approach to moral reasoning is used to demonstrate how the principles of autonomy, justice, beneficence, and nonmaleficence justify the moral good of school-based condom availability programs. The following main arguments are made: (1) the potential to reduce the threats of disease justify why a respect for an at-risk child's autonomy should override a respect for a not at-risk adult's autonomy; (2) the principle of equality of opportunity and Rawls' principle of justice obligates health educators to provide at-risk children, and all children, the just act of access to sexuality education and condoms; (3) the health educator's professional, scientific and ethical roles and acts of promoting good health (beneficence) and preventing harmful diseases (nonmaleficence) obligates health educators to eliminate programs that interfere with the welfare and rights of children and programs that fail to reduce human suffering; and (4) a real action (school-based condom availability program) that is designed to prevent harm is better than an ideal action (abstinence-only programs) that ignores justice and allows harm to exist.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• Describe and interpret the evidence found in the scientific literature on the effectiveness of school-based condom availability programs, abstinence-only, and abstinence-plus sexuality education programs that are intended to change risky health behaviors and prevent sexually transmitted diseases and infections; and
• Recognize how the principles of autonomy, justice, beneficence, and nonmaleficence justify the implementation of sexuality education that includes school-based condom availability programs.

Keywords: Health Education, Ethics

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation