By Omboki Monayo
Nairobi, Kenya: Condoms, when utilized correctly and consistently, stand as one of the most effective methods for preventing various sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, as well as preventing unplanned pregnancies, presenting a unique contraception solution capable of addressing both concerns.
Male condoms, which are worn externally, are utilized during oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse, while female condoms, used internally, are suitable for vaginal or anal intercourse. Both types, when employed consistently and correctly, serve to disrupt the transmission chain of STIs, offering a cost-effective safeguard.
STIs significantly impact sexual and reproductive health worldwide, underscoring the importance of condoms in preventing their spread by impeding the exchange of bodily fluids and contact with infected areas. However, condoms do not protect against STIs causing extra-genital ulcers, like genital herpes.
Access to preferred contraceptive methods, including condoms, is essential for individuals to exercise reproductive autonomy. While perfect condom use offers 98% effectiveness against unplanned pregnancy, real-world efficacy is approximately 87%, emphasizing the importance of correct and consistent usage.
Condom Programming
Condom programming and interventions remain central to HIV combination prevention strategies and necessitate ongoing attention. Comprehensive condom programming, addressing both supply and demand, should adhere to principles ensuring universal availability and accessibility of quality-assured condoms, innovative and context-appropriate promotion and communication interventions, training for healthcare workers, and addressing factors influencing condom use.
Despite the low prevalence of condom use in Kenya, which has been indicated by research at an average of only 14.6 condoms per man per year, it’s important to note that correct and consistent condom usage offers significant protection. It can provide up to 95% effectiveness against HIV, other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and unintended pregnancy.
However, several obstacles hinder condom usage, leading to unmet targets. These include the defunding of condom social marketing programs, resulting in a lack of scaled demand generation, scarcity of lubricants, limited accessibility outside healthcare facilities, inadequate engagement in comprehensive sexuality education, affordability constraints for lower-income individuals, gender and social norms, and negative perceptions surrounding condoms. The shift in funding focus towards commodities over the past decade has left a new generation of users unfamiliar with condom demand generation efforts.
As the world marks International Condom Day, which falls on the eve of Valentine’s Day, it is gratifying to note that all is not lost. The rapid dissemination of online information has boosted condom messaging and programming associated with family planning and HIV/STI services.
Condom Shortage in Kenya
To boost uptake, the health sector must leverage innovative approaches. Adequate investment in the production of quality prophylactics is crucial to meet current demand and stimulate new demand, particularly among marginalized and high-risk populations with lower condom usage rates.
In September 2023, the leading organization overseeing Kenya’s HIV and AIDS response issued an appeal for the adoption of affordable condoms to counter the shortfall resulting from decreased donor funding and government-imposed taxes on medical donations. In response to the crisis, Health CS Susan Nakhumicha confirmed that the government had enough supplies in stock, adding that they would be made available to facilities upon request.
To address the shortage of condoms in Kenya accompanied by rising prices, the construction of a condoms and gloves manufacturing plant was begun in 2023 at a site in Dongo Kundu in Mombasa. The factory is expected to be operational by February 2024. According to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation Kenya Country Programme Director Samuel Kinyanjui, at least 400 million condoms are needed in Kenya annually against a distributed total of just 150 million.
In an interview with The Star newspaper last year, he urged the government to reduce taxes levied on condom and production and distribution, adding that it would empower investors and other stakeholders to purchase them locally and reduce the reliance on imports.
He pointed out that the return on investment on condoms is way higher than the taxes that the government would get adding that taxing of condoms will be a loss for the whole country.
According to Dr. Ruth Laibon-Masha, CEO of the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council, Kenya should consider implementing a “total market approach” that integrates individual purchases with the distribution of free condoms to make them more available to more people while promoting proper condom utilization.
Incorporating messages about sexual pleasure into sexual health programming shows promise in promoting condom use. An example is the use of the #SaferIsSexy and #AlwaysInFashion hashtags to popularize, demystify and destigmatize condom use. Non-judgmental counselling is essential for individuals on PrEP to support condom use for STI prevention, as evidence suggests limited changes in condom use behaviour among PrEP users.
Condoms must remain readily available during emergencies to sustain progress in reducing unintended pregnancies and STIs. The World Health Organization notes that failure to include condoms among essential commodities during emergency lockdowns risks reversing gains made over the past three decades.
For more from the author reach out to him at omboki2725@gmail.com
