Promoting Female Condoms in HIV Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centres in Kenya

Bibliographic Data

ID3973099
AuthorsLucy Mung’ala, Lucy Wanjiku Mung’ala (LVCT Health), Nduku Kilonzo (LVCT Health), Patrick Angala (LVCT Health), Sally Theobald (0000-0002-9053-211X, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine), Miriam Taegtmeyer (0000-0002-5377-2536, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine)
Year2006
Volume14
Issue28
Pages99-103
Publication date2006-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueReproductive Health Matters (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0968-8080 • E-ISSN: 1460-9576
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1016/s0968-8080(06)28260-0
PMID17101427
OpenAlexW2099660798
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited12

Promotion of male condoms and voluntary counselling and testing for HIV (VCT) have been cornerstones of Kenya's fight against the HIV epidemic. This paper argues that there is an urgent need to promote the female condom in Kenya through VCT centres, which are rapidly being scaled-up across the country and are reaching increasingly large numbers of people. Training of counsellors using a vaginal demonstration model is needed, as well an adequate supply of free female condoms. In a study in five VCT centres, however, counsellors reported that most people they counselled believed female condoms were "not as good" as male condoms. In fact, many clients had little or no knowledge or experience of female condoms. Counsellors' knowledge too was largely based on hearsay; most felt constrained by lack of experience and had many doubts about female condoms, which need addressing. Additional areas that require attention in training include how to re-use female condoms and the value of female condoms for contraception. VCT counsellors in Kenya already promote male condoms as a routine part of risk reduction counselling alongside HIV testing. This cadre, trained in client-centred approaches, has the potential to champion female condoms as well, to better support the right to a healthy and safe sex life

Condom · Developing country · Economic growth · Environmental health · Family medicine · Family planning · Gynecology · Political science · Population · Research methodology · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Sex work and related issues