Use a condom...PROPERLY!
In unofficial testing conditions we recently managed to pour nearly 9 liters of water into an Indian government issued condom. Not only does this confirm that condoms do not leak and are clearly strong enough to perform their duties in preventing the mixing of body fluids during sex, but it also shows that condoms can be a space efficient water carrying device-yet this was not the point of the exercise.
Apparently the latter is the purpose for which some of the 1 billion free condoms distributed by different sources in India was used for last year. According to the author of a recent article only one-third of these free condoms are actually being used for the purpose for which they were manufactured. In rural settings they have been used to carry water, in urban settings they are mixed with tar to pave roads, and the military has been using them to protect their guns from water and dust. Apparently the latex in the condoms has also been melted down and re-used as children's toys.
One of the guidelines that we follow strictly before distributing condoms is to do a full condom demonstration. The danger of not demonstrating the proper use of condoms before handing them out for free to populations that often lack even general sex education and any prior exposure to condoms may actually equal the risk of not using condoms during sex. Without a demonstration condoms may not only be used as fill for roads or for protecting the metal of India's guns, but it could be put on improperly and tear or fail in some other way due to user error. Condoms are clinically and scientifically proven to be at least 99% effective in preventing the transmission of HIV and in preventing pregnancy IF USED PROPERLY AND CONSISTENTLY. If improperly used during sexual intercourse the ramifications are serious. Word of mouth messaging that condoms don't actually work or that they are manufactured improperly will be more effective at halting use than any positive messaging on our behalf.
Some people have the theory that simply blitzing populations with free condoms will help with HIV prevention and family planning, but we are of the opinion (which is partially validated by this recent article) that condoms can only be effectively distributed and thus effectively used for their intended purposes if they are distributed after a full condom demonstration.
To take something positive from the article, if the military trusts condoms to protect their guns, ...shouldn't you trust condoms (used properly and consistently) to protect you?
Apparently the latter is the purpose for which some of the 1 billion free condoms distributed by different sources in India was used for last year. According to the author of a recent article only one-third of these free condoms are actually being used for the purpose for which they were manufactured. In rural settings they have been used to carry water, in urban settings they are mixed with tar to pave roads, and the military has been using them to protect their guns from water and dust. Apparently the latex in the condoms has also been melted down and re-used as children's toys.
One of the guidelines that we follow strictly before distributing condoms is to do a full condom demonstration. The danger of not demonstrating the proper use of condoms before handing them out for free to populations that often lack even general sex education and any prior exposure to condoms may actually equal the risk of not using condoms during sex. Without a demonstration condoms may not only be used as fill for roads or for protecting the metal of India's guns, but it could be put on improperly and tear or fail in some other way due to user error. Condoms are clinically and scientifically proven to be at least 99% effective in preventing the transmission of HIV and in preventing pregnancy IF USED PROPERLY AND CONSISTENTLY. If improperly used during sexual intercourse the ramifications are serious. Word of mouth messaging that condoms don't actually work or that they are manufactured improperly will be more effective at halting use than any positive messaging on our behalf.
Some people have the theory that simply blitzing populations with free condoms will help with HIV prevention and family planning, but we are of the opinion (which is partially validated by this recent article) that condoms can only be effectively distributed and thus effectively used for their intended purposes if they are distributed after a full condom demonstration.
To take something positive from the article, if the military trusts condoms to protect their guns, ...shouldn't you trust condoms (used properly and consistently) to protect you?
posted by Deep Griha at 11:52 pm
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