Female condom use goes down! … likely to lead to rise in STDs , unwanted pregnancies,HIV -Ghana AIDS C’ssion

The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has decried the low usage of female condoms saying the situation was likely to lead to the rise in Sexually Transmitted Diseases, unwanted pregnancies and HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
According to the GAC, about 3, 047 584 female condoms were used in 2015 alone, but suddenly reduced to 57, 348 in 2020.

Giving further  details about the reduction in the use of the commodity, it said in 2016, the number was reduced to 278, 742;  further down by 650,338 in 2017;  while in 2018 it was again reduced by 376, 830 and in 2019 slumped to 209, 565.

The Director General of the GAC, Dr Kyeremeh Atuahene, speaking in an interview with the Ghanaian Times on Thursday in Accra, attributed the low patronage of the health commodity to the lack of adequate public education about its usage.

He said it was disturbing that women were not patronising the female condoms .
He said “these figures show that female condoms are not popular as compared to male condoms and this is quiet disturbing because female condoms which should have given them autonomy  to decide and protect themselves.

DrAtuahene said the commission had not been able to carry out a vigorous female education campaign over the past six years due to funding gaps, adding that “we are trying to start a new campaign in 2022 to sensitise the public and the need to use female health commodity.

With the excuse by some women that that the female condoms were not user friendly, he said the manufacturers had this time improved the quality to make it flexible wearing  and removal after using it.

However, he said the materials were changed and it was re-launched in 2014 to enable women to have access to it.
Dr Atuahene said in 2015, the Ghana AIDS Commission played a leading role by mobilising women groups and civil society organisations to promote the use of female condoms.

He said there was an attempt to develop some drugs women could use to protect themselves against HIV but did not turn out well, “now new technologies are coming up, effort currently to develop an anti-HIV contraceptives and even now some of the contraceptives we want to add anti-HIV elements so that women can be protected but until those things come to the market, the option for women now is the female condoms.”

Sharing her experience, Ms Akosoa Boatema of Awoshie-Baah Yard, said when she decided to give it a trial for the first time, it did not go well with her saying that the condom removed so since then I have decided not to use it again.
Even though she was aware that the female condom could prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, the cumbersome nature of it puts me off.”

Another Awoshie-Baah Yard resident, Efia Nyamekye said she had little knowledge about the condom and fear that during sexual intercourse the condom could slip into her womb.

Mrs Abigail Konea said even though she is not used to contraceptives, she decided to use female condoms to prevent unwanted pregnancies but she had no idea about its usage.

Mr Benedict Ansong, a resident at Abeka, said he would not allow his partner use the female condom, arguing that such things were evil, “I do not believe in these female and male condoms, it is a sign of the  end time.”

By AGNES OPOKU SARPONG