The Misconceptions of Contraception

Condom use is low among youth aged 15-19. Credit: M.Sayagues/IPSBy Tharanga YakupitiyageUNITED NATIONS, Mar 1 2019 (IPS)In light of rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies, governments are exploring ways to tackle taboos around condoms.In a new study, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) reviews the availability and accessibility of condoms, hoping to dismantle potentially harmful misconceptions. “Many countries want to implement [CAP], but they are very anxious because they will be asked where the evidence is,” UNFPA’s senior HIV prevention advisor Bidia Deperthes told IPS.“We don’t put enough money to really understand the behavior and to have this study that can really guide us and put condoms in places where people really need them…the condoms in terms of volumes seems to be out there, but are they really reaching the people who need to use them?” she added.Increasingly, it is youth that need them the most.According to the UN Children’s Fund, HIV rates among adolescents and young people aged 15-19 are rising. In 2016 alone, 260,000 young people of the same age were newly infected with HIV.With a new generation who did not face the HIV epidemic in the 1980s and 1990s, Eda Algur, who headed the research, pointed to the importance of condoms.“Because of things like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and the fact that we have so many medications for [HIV], it may be less on people’s minds,” she told IPS.“Rates are going down i...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: Education Featured Gender Global Headlines Health TerraViva United Nations Women's Health Source Type: news