In the midst of President Bush’s proposal to increase abstinence-only program funding in public schools, local health officials plan to continue advocating the benefits of condom use.

“There has been discussion that condoms are ineffective [in preventing HIV and STD infection],” said Brian Dunn, program coordinator at the Thielen Student Health Center. “I think it is ridiculous.”

Bush recently proposed increasing the nation’s abstinence-only programs federal funding from $60 million to $135 million. This figure would match the budget for the family planning program, the nation’s current sex education program.

Proponents of abstinence-only sex education are concerned teaching young people about birth control will lead to early sexual intercourse. Others, however, believe withholding information about birth control will lead to more cases of STDs and early, unwanted pregnancy.

The vice chairwoman of the Iowa State College Republicans, April Young, said condom information may be a way of promoting sex, and abstinence-only programs would contradict its purpose by including condom information.

“The point is to not have sex. It would be going back on [the Bush administration’s] word,” Young said. “They can’t say, ‘Don’t have sex. Here’s some condoms just in case.'”

But Dunn said the health center staff does anything it can do to help prevent disease, including promoting condom use.

“One type of disease prevention that is an issue for students is STDs,” he said. “That’s why we do condom distribution and educational programs.”

In line with the push for abstinence-only sex education, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has eliminated its information on how to properly use condoms from its Web site. Also eliminated were studies containing information that stated education programs that promote the use of condoms do not encourage earlier sexual activity among youth.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has been pinpointed as the reason for the Web site’s omission of condom information, said Robert Hensley, teaching and research assistant for the human development and family studies.

“I’m very concerned when information that is vital to people’s lives — saving their lives — is being withheld,” he said.

Melissa Grant, senior director of health services for Planned Parenthood, said the CDC is a respected source, but she disagrees with the decision to omit condom information.

“Reducing access to that information could increase pregnancy rates, as well as HIV and STD infection, which could be devastating,” she said.

Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa centers gave away about 50,000 condoms from July 1, 2001, through June 30, 2002, said Kendall Dillon, director of marketing and communications for Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa.

— Newsweek contributed to this article.