A leading AIDS organisation has revealed a 125% increase in the use of male and female condoms in Zimbabwe compared to last year.
The contraceptive device, traditionally more popular among men than women, has seen a reversal of popularity with more women taking to using the female condom, particularly commercial sex workers, the National Aids Council (NAC) has said.
The findings were revealed during a meeting with health stakeholders in Zimbabwe recently during which Harare provincial NAC co-ordinator Mr Adonija Muzondiona said that although the results were encouraging, there was still a need for more awareness of different forms of contraception.
"There is need for more awareness campaigns, community mobilisation and sensitisation on sexually transmitted diseases," he said.
Mr Muzondiona added that the success so far was down to well planned programmes but stressed the need for further funding to continue the good progress already made.
A string of health organisations including Zimbabwe Community Health Intervention Research Project, Childhood HIV & Aids Zimbabwe, and the Harare City Council's social welfare department all revealed positive progress with their own campaigns which target behaviour change among the local population towards condoms.
The findings also revealed different attitudes towards contraception, with married couples more likely to shun the use of a female condom.
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