The number of people using condoms in the country have declined over the past few years, the National Aids Control Council has revealed.
According to Caroline Kinoti, an officer at the council, the recent survey indicated that only 45 per cent of men are using condoms. She also said that only 40 per cent of women are using the protective material.
Kinoti said despite there being a shortage of condoms supply in the county, there has been an apathy of using them.
“Men with multiple sexual partners are the major culprits in avoiding the use of condoms and this might increase the risk of spreading the HIV virus,” she said.
Addressing the media in Murang’a, Kinoti said among the contributing factors to low uptake of condoms are; unavailability, stigma attached to the product and lack of acceptability among partners.
The officer said the council in collaboration with other stakeholders is putting concerted efforts to promote use of condoms so as to curb the spread of HIV virus.
She said the risk of new infection among the youngsters aged between 19 and 24 years is still high and the council is putting more focus on this group.
“Condoms will prevent spread of infections and unwanted pregnancies among the girls and we are promoting use of condoms to the people in this age bracket,” she said.
Kinoti also said it’s high time the government and other players in the education sector considered introducing sex education in the learning institutions saying this will help the younger generation to learn how to take caution.
“It’s no longer a secret that children as young as 10 years are engaging in sexual affairs and we can only teach them how to take precautions,” she added.
Faith Ndung’u, from Aids Health-care Foundation, said there is too much stigma against condoms and this has been affecting use of condoms.
She said they are working to have condoms put at the centre of HIV prevention in the country exuding confidence that the efforts shall bear fruits.
“We have a multi-sectoral approach to advocate for the use of condoms because they have proven to be effective in curbing the spread of HIV,” she remarked.
