The examples of Senegal and Thailand

The examples of Senegal and Thailand indicate that the introduction
of condom-promotion programmes early in the epidemic strengthens
HIV prevention. High rates of condom use among populations
at higher risk of HIV acquisition, before an epidemic spreads to
the general population, may account for successful control of the
epidemic. In countries where the HIV epidemic has spread to the
general population, high rates of consistent condom use among the
general population will be needed over an extended period of many
years before an effect on prevalence rates can be detected.
The available evidence clearly shows that a dramatic increase in
condom use can make, and over the past two decades has made, a
difference. This has occurred in a variety of geographic regions
and cultures and has far exceeded what many sceptics would have
believed possible even a few years ago. People can be and have been
convinced of the need to use condoms, supporting the argument that
for many people condoms represent an acceptable, viable strategy for
HIV control.