Condoms and HIV prevention

Condoms and HIV prevention
Condom use is a critical element in a comprehensive, effective and sustainable
approach to HIV prevention and treatment
Prevention is the mainstay of the response to AIDS. Condoms are an integral and essential
part of comprehensive prevention and care programmes, and their promotion must be
accelerated. In 2007, an estimated 2.7 million people became newly infected with HIV. About
45% of them were young people from 15 to 24 years old, with young girls at greater risk of
infection than boys.
The male latex condom is the single, most efficient, available technology to reduce
the sexual transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
The search for new preventive technologies such as HIV vaccines and microbicides
continues to make progress, but condoms will remain the key preventive tool for many, many
years to come. Condoms are a key component of combination prevention strategies
individuals can choose at different times in their lives to reduce their risks of sexual exposure
to HIV. These include delay of sexual initiation, abstinence, being safer by being faithful to
one’s partner when both partners are uninfected and consistently faithful, reducing the
number of sexual partners, correct and consistent use of condoms1, and male circumcision.
Conclusive evidence from extensive research among heterosexual couples in which one
partner is infected with HIV shows that correct and consistent condom use significantly
reduces the risk of HIV transmission from both men to women, and also from women to
men2. Laboratory studies show that male latex condoms are impermeable to infectious
agents contained in genital secretions3. To ensure safety and efficacy, condoms must be
manufactured to the highest international standards. They must be procured according to the
quality assurance procedures established by the WHO, UNFPA and UNAIDS and they
should be stored away from direct heat sources. Prevention programmes need to ensure
that high-quality condoms are accessible to those who need them, when they need them,
and that people have the knowledge and skills to use them correctly.
Condoms must be readily available universally, either free or at low cost, and
promoted in ways that help overcome social and personal obstacles to their use.
Condom use is more likely when people can access them at no cost or at greatly subsidized
prices. Effective condom promotion targets not only the general population, but also people
at higher risk of HIV exposure, especially women, young people, sex workers and their
clients, injecting drug users and men who have sex with men. UNFPA estimates that the
current supply of condoms in low- and middle-income countries falls well short of the number
required (the condom ‘gap’)4. Despite the gap, international funding for condom procurement
has not increased in recent years. Collective actions at all levels are needed to support
efforts of countries, especially those that depend on external assistance for condom
procurement, promotion and distribution.