Political intrusion into public health practice and policy in the Unites States has been increasingly documented. Nowhere has this been more apparent than in the denigration of condoms as a critical component of STI and HIV prevention. The promotion of abstinence until marriage has not only consumed domestic funding but international funding as well. Numerous sources have found that these abstinence only until programs give misinformation or no information on the effective use of condoms. While 50% of new reported cases of HIV in the US are to young people under the age of 24, it is rare that young people receive any information regarding the effectiveness of condoms and how to use them. In 2005, Advocates for Youth, an independent,nationally recognized youth reproductive rights organization launched an educational social marketing campaign...Respect Yourself.Protect Yourself. throughtout the USA. The Campaign is designed to promote open, honest discussion about condoms and emphasize their importance to reducing unintended pregnancy, STI\'s and HIV. Respect Yourself.Protect Yourself. is based on a higly successful campaign conducted by the German government\'s Federal Centre for Health Education and they partnered with Advocates for Youth to develop the US version. Young people,15-24 can use a creative \"Tool\" at http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/youth/advocacy/yan/condom/tool/htm to design potential campaign materials. The \'Tool\" provides a graphic template, colorful condoms as well as a pencil and an eraser. Using them, participants can create a design, add a slogan and submit the design to a contest.All entries appear in an online gallery and 3 winners are chosen twice a year to receive cash prizes. Winning designs are used for posters,palm cards,print and electronic ads. The Campaign impact and outreach strategies and examples of the materials will be shared.
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