Wednesday, July 18, 2012

More sensitisation on the female condom



By Brenda Zulu

There is need for more sensitization on the female condom which is an empowerment tool for women. A Community based distributor  based in Ndola rural Evelyn Chimbalanga said the female condoms was not preferred by most women and has since not been popular.

Having done demonstrations on how to use the female condom, Ms Chimbalanga said it was surprising that the female condom was not a preferred by women.
“My observation is that people are comfortable using other family planning methods such that female condom in stock expire because of low demand,” said Ms Chimbalanga.

While the response must clearly be strong on prevention, treatment and care, Ms Chimbalanga said there was a need for women to understand that the female condom was a viable option.

Meanwhile, Blessings Chipanda 30 years old who has attended two female condom demonstrations at her local clinic in Lusaka and Kasama said she had never used the female condom.  

“It has just not crossed my mind that i should use it,” she said.
Susan Mwape 27years old said the demonstration looked very complicated and that she has used bangles that are on the edges of the female condom.

“I have seen it being sold by my hair dresser at the salon where i go and people buy and strip the female condom for bangles,” she said.

Belita Phiri 42 years old who has used the female condom says it was fine though she had to negotiate with the partner.  She however bemoaned the fact that without a lubricant the female condom made noises during intercourse. In any case she was happy that the female condom provided the responsibility to share the use of the condom with her partner.

“I used it and am happy it protected me from being pregnant and from contracting sexually transmitted diseases including HIV. The fact that i had it came in handy because there was nowhere to buy male condoms at that late hour,” she said.
Pamela Musonda 38 years old said she had never used it because it was too big.
 “It takes time for one to start inserting it while someone was waiting. It would certainly spoil the moment for the man who is not very patient to wait while there are other options,” she said.

Chanda Katongo  23 years old expressed ignorance and said she does not know anything about the female condom.

“I have never used it. I don’t know it. I doubt if i will ever use it,” said Katongo.
A man who did not want to be named said any serious man would not want to encourage her woman to use the female condom because by the time the woman wears it, men lose their erection.

He said while he has used it, a solution would be for women to wear the female condom way in advance of sexual intercourse so as not to interfere with the moment.
Matonge Ngoma 55 said wife has never used it and that they have hardly used any condoms.

“I am not a fun of condoms; they make me feel less human. Since they are designed to protect unwanted pregnancies, STI and HIV and aids, it is a tool worthy using by women but with mutual consent with their spouses and partners,” he advised.

Kulthum Ally 35 years old observed that what sells at the pharmacy were male condoms and not female condoms and that she was afraid to use the female condom because it was too big.

Florence Gichoya 28 years old admitted only seeing the female condoms in the magazine and not used them.

“I have not even thought of trying. More advertising should be done for female condoms and should be cheaper and readily available in clubs and hotels,” she said.
Nelly Chola 33years old said she has never seen the female condom and that since she was alone she does not use any family planning method.

Kutemba Musoka 26 years said she had seen it but have never used it because she has never thought about it. She bemoaned the fact that there was no sensitisation about the female condom in the country. It is just not common when compared to the male condom.

Elijah Mwitwa 40 years old said the female condom was relatively expensive and limited in availability.

He called on health organisations to double up their efforts of advertising it just like they did for male condom.  He said it was important that the accessibility of female condoms goes beyond the women in Lusaka to cover the whole nation.
Prevention Programme Coordinator for AIDS Healthcare Foundation Zanele Dlamini said women don’t like the condom because it looks bulky.

She said that many women were embarrassed to carry it and often gave an excuse that their partner won't accept it.

“They constantly argue that it is not practical to put a condom on 30min before use because their partner can change their mind and they would have prepared for nothing,” said Dlamini.

Brenda Zulu is a Women’s Edition 2010 to 2012