Four Components of Abstinence

by LeAnna Benn

When asked to focus on abstinence a CDC HIV/AID grant recipient, Rosemary Thomas, replied yesterday in a Duluth newspaper, “To be abstinent, you need four components in place: communication, negotiation, self-esteem and power to control their situations. People who are most at risk for HIV often don’t have that in place,” she said.

To use condoms a teen needs as much or more of those four components plus money for a condom and enough organizational skills to keep the condom close by but not too close. Thomas’ quote suggests that working with high risk kids who find abstinence unrealistic (according to her) requires that society give them condom skills. Are they ready for condom skills if they are not able to communicate, negotiate or control their situation? How much more unrealistic is to expect them to also find and fund condom usage each and every time? So, if kids lack skills the “solution” is to throw condoms at them -- and teach them condom skills…?

http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/14852226.htm

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