Today’s sex ed lesson from the NYT: Condoms. And how COVID teaches kids about sexually transmitted infections

Today’s sex ed lesson from the NYT: Condoms and how COVID teaches kids about sexually transmitted infections

Authorities in Vietnam confiscated about 800 pounds of used condoms that had been boiled, reshaped and dried in preparation for resale. Would I arrest Pham Thi Thanh Ngoc, the woman being paid 17 cents per 2 pound bag to clean condoms? No. I would hire her! She likely has key insights into a broken system - one that allows for a used condom market. If condoms cost just two or three cents to make, we’d hope that the manufacturing and distribution systems in place, and the governments that regulate them, could ensure that only new, viable condoms find their way to all who need and want them.

FYI, because I have had 5th graders ask - condoms are designed to be tossed immediately after use. Reused condoms can easily break and leak, causing higher rates of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, and all the social, emotional, and financial hardships that can stem from these experiences.

I'm doubly surprised about the condom scheme, because Vietnam has had one of the most successful public health campaigns around COVID. Which got me thinking about all the ways in which we can use COVID to teach our kids about the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) and diseases (STD’s). Guidance from the National Health Education Standards (written collectively by nationally respected professionals, that provide guidance on age-appropriate sexual health education content), reminds us to always emphasize communication, decision-making, problem solving and advocacy. The discussions could look something like this:

Elementary school: Explain why it’s important to avoid potentially unsafe body fluids. Use snot as an easier starter.

Questions for discussion: How do you keep yourself and others safe from getting COVID?

Middle school: Move into the concepts of how body fluids also transmit sexually transmitted infections and diseases - including HIV.

Questions for discussion: What do you know about how COVID spreads? Do you think that understanding COVID helps you understand how different viruses spread (spit, droplets, body fluid)? Have you heard of sexually transmitted infections? Do you know how they get passed from person to person? What would you do if you felt unsafe? How would you communicate and stand up for what you want and what you don’t want?

High school:  Talk about the laws around teens accessing sexual health information, services and resources, including those related to STD/HIV.

Questions for discussion: Do you feel safe from COVID? Where would you go to find out more information about how diseases spread, including sexually transmitted infections? What would you do if you felt like you needed to see a medical provider?

For the original article: https://www.nytimes.com/.../vietnam-recycled-condoms.html