Breaking the Barriers: An Analysis of Condom-related Calls to the National AIDS Helpline

Published by the Centre for AIDS Development, Research and Evaluation (CADRE), this 12-page report draws upon qualitative findings from focus group sessions with counsellors at the South African national AIDS Helpline to highlight contextual problems and informational needs about condoms as reflected in calls to the Helpline. On the basis of these findings, the paper makes recommendations for enhancing condom-related communications.

"Over the past decade considerable efforts have been made to promote the availability, acceptability and use of condoms worldwide as part of attempts to stem the spread of HIV infection. Condoms have been promoted intensively in South Africa since 1995 and increases in condom use among all age groups have been found in behavioural surveys over the past five years.

Condoms are, however, only effective in preventing HIV/AIDS transmission if they are used consistently and correctly. Among obstacles to the use of condoms in South Africa are lack of knowledge about the correct use of condoms, myths and misunderstandings about their importance in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS, and general reluctance or difficulty to introduce condoms into sexual relationships.

The emphasis of early condom promotion campaigns was on the use of condoms in non-marital situations – e.g. commercial sex or sex with non-regular partners (Ali et al 2004). While this strategy was seen as appropriate in countries with limited or concentrated HIV/AIDS epidemics, the growing number of countries with generalised epidemics in 2000 led to the focus of condom use at the general population level.

South Africa’s overall HIV/AIDS prevalence rate was found to be 11.4% in 2002 (Shisana et al 2002). Condoms have formed the cornerstone of HIV/AIDS prevention efforts in South Africa and have been widely promoted for HIV/AIDS prevention. Since the early 1990s, condoms have been distributed free of charge through the public sector."