Female condom use in Kenya
--------------------------
A study on female condom use in Kenya shows that, while women and men
like the method, they did not use it often enough to substantially
lower the rates of sexually transmitted diseases. Preliminary results
of the study, conducted among more than 1,900 women working at cof-
fee, tea and flower plantations, were discussed May 9 at a meeting in
Nairobi. The study, conducted by Family Health International, the
University of Nairobi Microbiology Department and the Family Planning
Association of Kenya showed:
* The majority of women who used the female condom said they liked
the device, and their partners did, too.
* Women said they liked the female condom because they felt it was
stronger than the male condom and it was under their control. Women
who did not like the female condom said it was too large, contained
too much lubricant, made noise during sex and diminished their sexual
pleasure.
* Women in our study had high rates of sexually transmitted infec-
tions (STIs). More work needs to be done to reduce these infection
rates. Unfortunately, the female condom did not help lower STI rates
because women did not use it often enough.
* Male condom use increased during the study as more men learned
about the method, learned about STIs and had easier access to male
condoms.
* Despite intensive community education and mobilization campaigns,
consistent male and female condom use remained low.
* Upgrading STI diagnosis and treatment services was difficult.
Greater efforts will be needed to address this important component of
HIV prevention strategies. Study results were presented to the Minis-
try of Health, which will consider the data in future decisions about
Kenya's contraceptive mix.
David Hock
Senior Information Projects Coordinator
Family Health International
mailto:dhock@fhi.org
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