See The Female condom: Nigerian women yet to embrace usage

As the world observed the 2013 Global Female cóndom Day, the Female cóndom is yet to find its place in the hearts of many Nigerian women. Statistics show that less than two percent of Nigerian women are using cóndoms.

Female cóndoms  are made from thin, soft plastic called polyurethane and are worn inside the birth canal to prevent sémén getting to the womb.

When used correctly during váginal séx, female cóndoms help to protect against pregnancy and séxually transmitted infections.

In a statement to mark the Day, the United State Agency International Development, USAID, said the day was designed to increase awareness, access, and use of female cóndoms.

According to the statement, “as the only woman-initiated product capable of offering dual protection from pregnancy and séxually transmitted infections, the female cóndom is a vital tool to protect women’s reproductive health and combat the HIV pandemic, ultimately helping to create an AIDS-free generation.”

Programme Manager, New HIV Vaccines and Microbicides Advocacy Society, Dr.  Florita Durueke, said lack of awareness and inaccessibility are some of the challenges to use of female cóndoms in the country.

Durueke, who spoke at a recent forum in Lagos, said that the cost and technical application were some of the other issues discouraging the use of cóndoms among women.

The female cóndom is designed to empower  women and girls make informed reproductive health choices.

Resident Representative, UNFPA, Ms. Victoria Akyeampong, observed that it was essential to provide access to female  cóndoms for women in Nigeria. “Unlike other methods of contraceptive, the female cóndom is unpopular and often overlooked by end users. Findings from Nigeria’s Demographic Health Surveys reveals that 35 percent of unmarried woimen use the male cóndom in contrast to 0.2 percent who use the female cóndom.

Findings show that Nigerian women are yet to understand the importance of female cóndom while many have never set their eyes on the only vital tool capable of protecting women’s reproductive health.

The United State Food and Drug Administration, FDA, had approved the second generation of the female cóndom (FC2). Made of nitrile (synthetic latex)

The World Health Organisation, WHO, concluded in 2006 that the FC2 was comparable to the FC1 in both safety and effectiveness, and when used consistently and correctly, female cóndoms are just as effective as male cóndoms.

Experts also believe that promoting the female cóndom is a cost-effective intervention, particularly given the high cost of HIV treatment and other prevention interventions, as well as when the use of male cóndoms is not a viable option.

Meanwhile, the  UNFPA, recently donated four million female cóndoms  to the Society for Family Health as part of universal access to female cóndom.

So ladies, will you use a female cóndom or not? and why?