The low rate of condom usage by South African youth is worrying experts, who point out that not only does it contribute to the high teenage pregnancy rate but also to HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women.
Despite condoms being available free at public healthcare facilities and some public buildings, the South African National Aids Council (SANAC) says around 350 470 young women aged 15-24 were diagnosed with HIV in 2022.
However, Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) chairperson Sibongile Tshabalala said although condoms are supposed to be accessible in public health facilities countrywide, there are still not enough of them, reports Health-e News.
Roll out female condoms
Tshabalala said Gauteng, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal have all had shortages in the past few months, and that key populations are also missing out, and that inadequate provision was a significant concern needing urgent attention.
“When you look for femidoms and other kinds of condoms, they are not available in public sectors. So, it is still problematic,” she says.
Increased chances of HIV and STIs
Dr Kim Jonas, a specialist scientist in the Health Systems Unit of the South African Medical Research Council (MRC), said their research shows 52% of adolescent girls and young women who had ever had sex accessed a male condom during the year before the survey, 27% accessed a female condom, 41% accessed another form of modern contraception, and only 48% had ever used a modern contraceptive.
“Approximately half of the young women participating in our survey were at risk of HIV acquisition or onward transmission. The use of a contraceptive method plus condom (dual contraception) was low among participants, meaning that young women may be preventing unintended pregnancy but risk contracting HIV because they are not practising dual prevention,” she said.
Access to sexual and reproductive health services for young people should be expanded beyond the “traditional” health facilities into the schools, added Jonas.
“The schools, because that is where many girls are; to the community/city hall, where it is safe and convenient for young girls to come. Provide comprehensive, person-centred and youth-responsive sexual and reproductive health counselling and services.”
Health-e News article – Low condom usage among SA youth raises alarm (Creative Commons Licence)
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Contraception shortages are failing South African women – Stop Stockout Report
Condom shortage places Mpumalanga sex workers, truckers at risk
SA increases spend on HIV but condom access plummets — Health Barometer
Contraceptive roulette at SA's state clinics