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The exercise revealed that the large-scale, multipartner launch of the FC in May 2000 in Ghana was largely successful in raising product awareness. Uptake, however, was and remains low. Most stakeholders agree that momentum has waned substantially since the initial launch and report that financial support for large-scale promotion and distribution is lacking. Thus, while the product is reportedly available in both the public and private sector, social marketing efforts are virtually absent; pelvic models and information, education, and communication materials are limited; distribution primarily occurs in urban areas; and aside from urban sex workers, programmers have limited information about current or prospective FC users. In addition, while the FC has been positioned both as a contraceptive commodity and protection against HIV and STIs, promotion primarily occurs through the Reproductive and Child Health Department of the Ghana Health Service. Aside from services for commercial sex workers, efforts to integrate FC promotion within a broader range of HIV/AIDS programs appear nascent.

Despite the current lull in activity with regard to FC promotion, there is a renewed interest in and support for the FC at the policy level. This is evidenced by the FC’s reported inclusion in the reproductive health and HIV/AIDS policy frameworks, service provider guidelines, and revised curriculums for in-service training. Furthermore, most interviewed stakeholders strongly believe in the FC’s potential and feel that greater attention and resources should be committed to its promotion. Though stakeholders expressed a number of concerns about past and current FC promotion, overall, the exploratory exercise revealed that the current context and timing offer a relatively strong window of opportunity for enhancing promotion of the product in Ghana.

Council researchers outlined their findings in a report in September 2008. Drawing upon stakeholder suggestions and synthesis of key observations and findings, they included specific recommendations for moving forward with an initiative to enhance FC promotion.

Council staff then held a Day of Dialogue on 24 November 2008, attended by 28 participants representing 17 organizations. Presentation topics included an historical overview of female condom programming in Ghana, the new female condom (FC-2), the current state of the female condom in Ghana, and strategic planning for a successful female condom program going forward. A question-and-answer session and SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis followed. A Day of Dialogue meeting report is available.

Day of Dialogue: Sharing insights and evidence on the female condom in Ghana (PDF) 
Report from a 24 November 2008 consultation in Accra, Ghana
Publication date: 2009


The female condom in Ghana: Exploring the current state of affairs and gauging potential for enhanced promotion (PDF) 
Naik,Reshma; Brady,Martha
Publication date: 2008