Condoms are a key component of comprehensive HIV prevention. A large body of scientific evidence shows that male latex condoms have an 80 percent or greater protective effect against the sexual transmission of HIV and other STIs. While condoms generally are available in most countries hardest hit by the epidemic, several barriers prevent the uptake of condom use in many parts of the world. These barriers include limited access to condoms, lack of information, cultural and sexual preferences, and gender and power dynamics. And while population-level approaches to condom distribution can reach large numbers of at-risk persons and have the potential to be highly cost-effective, they often fail to reach those at highest risk. Given its effectiveness, and its unique ability to place greater control over HIV prevention in women’s hands, female condoms should be an integral part of HIV prevention, treatment, and care strategies and programs worldwide. Yet, female condoms remain even less well understood, available, and acceptable.
Population Council focus
Council researchers are working to break down the barriers to condom use. This includes examining strategies to expand access to condom services, increase uptake, and promote comprehensive condom programming, which integrates male and female condom promotion with behavior change communication, market research, and management of supplies.
Population Council impact
- Council research informed the national strategic plans for reintegrating female and male condoms in the national reproductive health and HIV and AIDS programs in six West African countries.
- In Bangladesh, the Council explored the feasibility of using peer groups to expand young men’s access to condom services. The successful interventions were scaled up in 12 more districts to reconfirm the findings before expanding the intervention model to the national level. The study demonstrated that scaling up the model at the national level would be feasible, effective, and cost-effective.
- Council researchers conducted a study to increase dual-protection services among rickshaw pullers, a marginalized urban poor population in Bangladesh. When condoms were made available, condom use increased significantly among this population. Based on the positive findings of the study, the NGO Service Delivery Project expanded dual-protection services in 35 clinic catchment areas covering nearly 80,000 rickshaw pullers.
Future directions
Condom and lubricant distribution is an important component of the on-going Men’s Health Network Nigeria project. The Council will continue to support comprehensive condom programming and to investigate the female condom as an important HIV prevention tool.
Projects
Comprehensive Condom Programming in West Africa (more)
This Council project identified strategies for re-integrating the female and male condom in the national reproductive health and HIV and AIDS programs of Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Mauritania, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.
(1/2008 - 12/2008)
Burkina Faso, Congo, DRC, Liberia, Mauritania, Senegal, Sierra Leone
Strengthening Safe Sex Decisionmaking: Creating Conditions for Scaling Up Access to Life Skill Sexual and Reproductive Health Education and Condom Services (more)
A Council project in Bangladesh provided male youth with sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and skills and access to condoms for safer sex practices.
(10/2005 - 12/2008)
Bangladesh
Acceptability and Use of the Female Condom and Diaphragm Among Sex Workers in the Dominican Republic (more)
Council researchers explored the acceptability and use of barrier methods that protect against HIV and STIs among commercial sex workers.
(1/2006 - 2/2007)
Dominican Republic
Increasing Use of Dual Protection by Rickshaw Pullers in Bangladesh (more)
Council researchers with the FRONTIER program sought to increase knowledge among rickshaw pullers in Bangladesh of the benefits of using condoms for dual protection from STIs and pregnancy.
(10/2004 - 6/2006)
Bangladesh
Resources
Condoms and condiments: Compatibility and safety of personal lubricants and their use in Africa (abstract) (HTML)
Geibel,Scott
Journal of the International AIDS Society 16: 18531-
Publication date: 2013
"The Population Council's HIV and AIDS program," fact sheet (PDF)
Population Council
Publication date: 2012
The impact of peer outreach on HIV knowledge and prevention behaviours of male sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya (abstract) (HTML)
Geibel,Scott; King'ola,Nzioki; Temmerman,Marleen; Luchters,Stanley
Sexually Transmitted Infections 88(5): 357-362
Publication date: 2012
Condom use before marriage and its correlates: Evidence from India (abstract) (PDF)
Santhya,K.G.; Acharya,Rajib; Jejeebhoy,Shireen J.
International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health 37(4): 170-180
Publication date: 2011
Inverse probability weighting in STI/HIV prevention research: Methods for evaluating social and community interventions (abstract) (HTML)
Lippman,Sheri A.; Shade,Starley B.; Hubbard,Alan E.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases 37(8): 512-518
Publication date: 2010
Acceptability and use of the female condom and diaphragm among sex workers in Dominican Republic: Results from a prospective study (abstract) (PDF)
Lara,Diana K.; Grossman,Daniel; Munoz,Jhoanne; Rosario,Santo; Gomez,Bayardo; Garcia,Sandra G.
AIDS Education and Prevention 21(6): 538-551
Publication date: 2009
Adolescent experience in-depth: Using data to identify and reach the most vulnerable young people (HTML)
Series of 51 data guides by country
Publication date: 2009
Anal use of the female condom: Does uncertainty justify provider inaction? (abstract) (HTML)
Mantell,Joanne E.; Kelvin,Elizabeth A.; Exner,Theresa M.; Hoffman,Susie; Needham,Sarah L.; Stein,Zena A.
AIDS Care 21(9): 1185-1194
Publication date: 2009
Commercial sex workers in five Ethiopian cities: A baseline survey for USAID Targeted HIV Prevention Program for most-at-risk populations (PDF)
Girma,Woldemariam; Erulkar,Annabel S.
Report
Publication date: 2009
Creating conditions for scaling up access to life skills based sexual and reproductive health education and condom services: Strengthening safe sex decision-making
Bhuiya,Ismat; Rob,Ubaidur; Zahiduzzaman,K.M.; Chowdhury,Asiful Haider; Sarma,Haribondhu
Publication date: 2009
Enhancing promotion of the female condom (PDF)
Population Briefs 15(2)
Publication date: 2009
Female-initiated prevention: Integrating female condoms into HIV risk-reduction activities in Kenya (PDF)
Population Council; Liverpool VCT Care & Treatment
Publication date: 2009
Analyse de la situation du condom féminin au Burkina Faso
Diop,Nafissatou J.; Sawadogo,Ida; Konate,M.
Publication date: 2008
Analyse de la situation du condom féminin au Senegal
Diop,Nafissatou J.; et.al
Publication date: 2008
National strategic plan for comprehensive condom programming in Liberia, 2009-2013
Diop,Nafissatou J.; Saydee,Geetor; Taylor,Nyakpu
Publication date: 2008
Plan strategique du condom féminin au Senegal
Diop,Nafissatou J.; et.al
Publication date: 2008
Prostate-specific antigen in vaginal fluid after exposure to known amounts of semen and after condom use: Comparison of self-collected and nurse-collected samples (abstract) (PDF) (HTML)
Bahamondes,Luis; Diaz,Juan; Marchi,Nadia Maria; Castro,Sara; Villarroel,Marina; Macaluso,Maurizio
Human Reproduction 23(11): 2444-2451
Publication date: 2008
Situation analysis of condoms in Liberia
Diop,Nafissatou J.; Saydee,Geetor; Taylor,Nyakpu
Publication date: 2008
Emergency contraception, female condoms and IUDs in Kenya's public sector:
Findings from a national diagnostic assessment (PDF)
Keesbury,Jill; Owino,Benter; Bradford,Spike
Publication date: 2007
Sexual risk-taking and HIV testing among health workers in Zambia (abstract) (HTML)
Kiragu,Karusa; Ngulube,Thabale J.; Nyumbu,Mutinta; Njobvu,Panganani; Eerens,Peter; Mwaba,Chilufya
AIDS and Behavior 11(1): 131-136
Publication date: 2007
Improving access to life skills reproductive education and condom services for male youth
Bhuiya,Ismat; Chowdhury,Asiful Haider; Rahman,Mustafizur; Alam,Khurshid
Research Update (no. 1)
Publication date: 2006
'No party hat, no party': Successful condom use in sex work in Mexico and the Dominican Republic (abstract) (PDF) (HTML)
Garcia,Sandra G.; Yam,Eileen A.; Firestone,Michelle
Reproductive Health Matters 14(28): 53-62
Publication date: 2006
Understanding successful condom use among factory workers and students in Mexico and the Dominican Republic (abstract)
Goldman,Lisa; Richmond,Kara; Garcia,Sandra G.; Yam,Eileen A.; Becker,Davida
Gaceta Médica de México 142(S2): 117-127
Publication date: 2006
Apni janen ki-condom babohar korle aksathey duti upakar pawa jai [Do you know about the advantages of using condom--A pamphlet for youth]
Bhuiya,Ismat; Chowdhury,Asiful Haider
Publication date: 2005
Aponi ki janen condom ekshathey duti kaj kore [Poster for rickshaw pullers about dual protection of condom]
Population Council; NGO Service Delivery Program
Publication date: 2005
Condom babohar korle aksathey duti upakar pawa jai [Dual protection of condom--A poster for youth]
Bhuiya,Ismat; Chowdhury,Asiful Haider
Publication date: 2005
Condom kibhaye babohar korben [Leaflet for rickshaw puller: Correct use of condom]
Population Council; NGO Service Delivery Program
Publication date: 2005
Dominican Republic and Mexico: Promote condom use by emphasizing personal benefits (PDF)
FRONTIERS OR Summary (no. 50)
Publication date: 2005
Effectiveness of female and male condoms in preventing exposure to semen during vaginal intercourse: A randomized trial (abstract) (HTML)
Galvao,Loren; Oliveira,Laurione C.; Diaz,Juan; Kim,Dhong jin; Marchi,Nadia Maria; van Dam,C.Johannes; Castilho,Roger F.; Chen,Michael; Macaluso,Maurizio
Contraception 71(2): 130-136
Publication date: 2005
Factors associated with use of the female condom in Zimbabwe (abstract) (PDF)
Meekers,Dominique; Richter,Kerry
International Family Planning Perspectives 31(1): 30-37
Publication date: 2005
Zambie: Les pairs éducateurs peuvent contribuer à la promotion de comportements sexuels moins risqués [Zambia: Peer educators can promote safer sex behaviors]
FRONTIERS OR Summary (no. 17)
Publication date: 2004
Rapid Needs Assessment Tool for Condom Programming (PDF)
Miller,Robert A.; Sloan,Nancy L.; Weiss,Eugene; Pobiak,Bernard
Publication date: 2003
Female condoms and microbicides
Esu-Williams,Eka; Blanchard,Kelly; Essex,Max; Mboup,Souleymane; Kanki,Phyllis J.; Marlink,Richard G.; Tlou,Sheila D.
from AIDS in Africa, pp. 506-513
Publication date: 2002
Using men as community-based distributors of condoms (PDF)
Green,Cynthia P.; Joyce,Stephanie; Foreit,James R.
FRONTIERS Program Brief (no. 2)
Publication date: 2002
Adapting the Thai 100% condom programme: Developing a culturally appropriate model for the Dominican Republic (abstract) (HTML)
Kerrigan,Deanna; Moreno,Luis; Rosario,Santo; Sweat,Michael D.
Culture, Health and Sexuality 3(2): 221-240
Publication date: 2001
Constraints faced by sex workers in use of female and male condoms for safer sex in urban Zimbabwe (abstract) (HTML)
Ray,Sunanda; van de Wijgert,Janneke; Mason,Peter R.; Ndowa,Francis; Maposhere,Caroline
Journal of Urban Health 78(4): 581-592
Publication date: 2001
Facts about adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey: Statistical tables for program planning (HTML)
Series of DHS data tables by country
Publication date: 2001
South Africa: Providers should encourage sexually active youth to use condoms (PDF)
FRONTIERS OR Summary (no. 24)
Publication date: 2001
Zambia: Peer educators can promote safer sex behaviors (PDF)
FRONTIERS OR Summary (no. 17)
Publication date: 2001
The female condom in Zimbabwe: The interplay of research, advocacy, and government action (PDF)
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 1999
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