Women urged to stop reusing condoms
WHILE women are reportedly now more confident when it comes to asking for condoms, inconsistent use and the reuse of condoms remain a problem. So claims Ann-Marie Gabbidon, behaviour change expert attached to the Ministry of Health, Sharon Robinson, research officer at the Bureau of Women’s Affairs and Dr Veniece Bernard-Wright who spoke during the HIV AIDS prevention forum dubbed ‘A Community Dialogue’ at the Women’s Resource and Outreach Centre (WROC) on November 13.
“A lot of persons are saying that the female condom is reusable because it is so thick,” Robinson said. For her part, Dr Veneice Bernard-Wright warned, “Use a new condom every time. You cannot put it down, then wash it and reuse it.”
For Gabbidon inconsistent use is atill a problem. “Women are just coming forward to get the knowledge and skills on how to use the condom effectively,” she said. “Consistency is the problem. The minute you pass six weeks (in a new relationship) the condom disappears. However, you cannot tell that individuals are HIV-free unless they are tested. We need to be logical about this.”
She said the maintenance stage for HIV prevention is critical. “Persons will use the condom but for how long? You cannot tell at what stage individuals will cheat.”
At the forum, Dr Wright, WROC clinician, reminded the audience that 27 per cent of all new infections are diagnosed in women, said that some 25,000 Jamaicans are estimated as infected with HIV. She also noted that four out of ten do not know that they have it, adding that adolescents were particularly vulnerable physiologically to infection. Gabbidon said that persistent, risky behaviours include that from commercial sex workers who do not use condoms. There are also women in relationships who will dispense with condoms the “bigger the money” the man spends. Another factor, she said “is that people who are not feeling good about themselves do not treat themselves as special.” The Ministry of Health has initiated the personal, “risk reduction conversations” which seeks to address such issues. “Your status cannot determine your partner’s status. When you feel good about yourself, you use the condom effectively and use it consistently. You have the right to decide what happens to your whole life,” Gabiddon said Robinson, who discussed the increasing feminisation of HIV/AIDS and the link to gender-based violence said that women should teach their daughters to live on a budget so that when they get older they will not be asking men for money for everything they need, including hairstyles and clothing. She also encouraged women to walk away from violent relationships. “Many girls and women will remain in relationships and even when they know their partners are violent and cheating,” she said.
