Male and Female Condom Use
Gaps in Research
- 1.
- Condom promotion aimed at serodiscordant couples, particularly those in long-term, stable relationships is needed.
- 2.
- Interventions are needed to increase condom access by women, especially in rural areas.
- 3.
- Interventions are urgently needed to provide greater availability and access to female condoms, along with education and training regarding their use as an alternative to male-controlled male condoms.
- 4.
- Providers and VCT counselors need training on female condoms to promote use.
1. Condom promotion aimed at serodiscordant couples, particularly those in long-term, stable relationships is needed. Studies found that counselors and serodiscordant couples did not understand that the HIV-negative partner could acquire HIV, even after many years and HIV-positive women reported that their husbands refused to use condoms.
Gap noted, for example, in five African countries (Desgrées-du-Loû and Orne-Gliemann, 2008); Uganda (Bunnell et al., 2005); Thailand (Yoddumnern- Attig et al., 2004).
Desgrées-du-Loû, A. and J. Orne-Gliemann. 2008. “Couple-Centered Testing and Counselling for HIV Serodiscordant Hetersexual Couples in Sub-Saharan Africa.” Reproductive Health Matters 16 (3): 151-161.
2. Interventions are needed to increase condom access by women, especially in rural areas. A study found fewer condom outlets and access in rural areas.
Gap noted, for example, in Kenya (Papo et al., 2008).
Papo, J., E. Bauni, E. Sanders and H. Jaffe. 2008. “Quantifying the Condom Gap: Condom Access and Condom Use in Rural Kenya.” MOPE0531. XVII International AIDS Conference. Mexico City, Mexico. August 3-8.
3. Interventions that are tailored to specific groups of women are urgently needed to provide greater availability and access to female condoms, along with education and training regarding their use as an additional option to male-controlled male condoms. Studies found that women felt that they could avoid conflict and enhance their safe sex bargaining power by using a female condom when their sexual partner refused to use a male condom.
Gap noted, for example, in Kenya (Brady et al., 2009); Brazil (Dias et al., 2006); South Africa (Mqhayi et al., 2003 cited in Mantell et al., 2005); Uganda (Green et al., 2001); generally (Hoffman et al., 2004; Green et al., 2001; Okunlola et al., 2006; Mathews and Harrison, 2006).
Brady, M., K. Austrian, S. Geibel, D. Mwangi, S. Sudha, N. Kilonzo, H. Ngari, E. Njoki, G. Khisa, and C. Ajema. 2009. Female-initiated Prevention: Integrating Female Condoms into HIV Risk-reduciton Activities in Kenya.Nairobi, Kenya: Population Council.
4. Providers and VCT counselors need training on female condoms to promote use. Studies found that providers and counselors need training in order to be able to promote female condom use.
Gap noted, for example, in Kenya, (Mung’ala et al., 2006); South Africa, the US, and Nigeria (Mantell et al., 2001).
Mung’ala, L., N. Kilonzo, P. Angala, S. Theobald, M. Taegtmeyer. 2006. “Promoting Female Condoms in HIV Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centres in Kenya.” Reproductive Health Matters 14(28): 99-103.