The introduction of coloured and scented male condoms by the provincial department of health has seen an increase in condom distribution over the past year.
During the 2015/16 financial year, the province distributed 85527 male condoms, equivalent to 60 condoms per male client, up from 50 condoms per male client in the previous financial year. They credit this increase to the new condoms.
Health spokesman Siyanda Manana said the department started distributing purple-coloured and strawberry-scented condoms in July last year at tertiary institutions across the province. By November, they were distributing to the general public through their health facilities.
“Currently we are distributing all colours and scents across the province. We have received positive feedback from health facilities across the province that people are taking them in numbers, and the supply and demand has increased compared to the previous condoms,” he said.
The condoms are available in strawberry, banana and grape flavours and in a range of bright colours.
Manana said their district health information system reflects increased condom distribution since the advent of the coloured and scented condoms.
However, he said it was currently difficult to measure the impact of the increase in distribution, even though it was expected to have an effect on teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV infection.
He said there was an increased awareness in STIs and an evident reduction in new infections, which perhaps could be attributed to the new condom distribution.
What made teenage pregnancy difficult to measure was the duration of pregnancy and the fact that statistics were collected on a monthly basis.
“One can’t attribute the statistics to these condoms specifically,” Manana said.
Statistics South Africa’s latest General Household Survey shows the Eastern Cape had the second-highest number of teenage pregnancies in 2013 after KwaZulu-Natal.
Regarding HIV infection, Manana said results from a surveillance study, which was conducted every two years, were still pending.
He said it would be possible to check the impact of the new condoms on the study done for the next cycle. — vuyiswav@dispatch.co.za
Increase in state condom distribution
During the 2015/16 financial year, the province distributed 85527 male condoms, equivalent to 60 condoms per male client, up from 50 condoms per male client in the previous financial year. They credit this increase to the new condoms.
Health spokesman Siyanda Manana said the department started distributing purple-coloured and strawberry-scented condoms in July last year at tertiary institutions across the province. By November, they were distributing to the general public through their health facilities.
“Currently we are distributing all colours and scents across the province. We have received positive feedback from health facilities across the province that people are taking them in numbers, and the supply and demand has increased compared to the previous condoms,” he said.
The condoms are available in strawberry, banana and grape flavours and in a range of bright colours.
Manana said their district health information system reflects increased condom distribution since the advent of the coloured and scented condoms.
However, he said it was currently difficult to measure the impact of the increase in distribution, even though it was expected to have an effect on teenage pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV infection.
He said there was an increased awareness in STIs and an evident reduction in new infections, which perhaps could be attributed to the new condom distribution.
What made teenage pregnancy difficult to measure was the duration of pregnancy and the fact that statistics were collected on a monthly basis.
“One can’t attribute the statistics to these condoms specifically,” Manana said.
Statistics South Africa’s latest General Household Survey shows the Eastern Cape had the second-highest number of teenage pregnancies in 2013 after KwaZulu-Natal.
Regarding HIV infection, Manana said results from a surveillance study, which was conducted every two years, were still pending.
He said it would be possible to check the impact of the new condoms on the study done for the next cycle. — vuyiswav@dispatch.co.za
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