Cape Town - The government has added colour and flavour in its drive to promote safe sex among young people.
Purple grape-scented condoms were introduced to universities and colleges in the Western Cape a month ago to encourage people between the ages of 15 and 25 to use them.
Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced in 2014 that coloured and flavoured condoms would be available to “individuals of reproductive age”.
National spokesperson Joe Maila said the response had been encouraging. “Young people across the country say positive things about these condoms and it’s something they wanted.”
Maila said the government wanted to gauge the response of students to see if the condoms could be rolled out to clinics across the country. The condoms are free and are the same brand as Choice government-issue condoms.
A study by the Human Sciences Research Council reported that among adults aged between 15 and 49, the number of new HIV infections was 1.7 times higher in females than in males nationally. The incident rates among females aged 15 to 25 was more than four times higher than the incident rate found in males in this age category. The report said condom use by those aged 15 to 24 in the Western Cape had declined from 85.2 percent in 2008 to 67.5 percent in 2012.
Sex without a condom is a major driver of the HIV pandemic and the spread of sexually transmitted infections. Both male and female condoms can prevent HIV, STIs and unintended pregnancies when used correctly.
The Western Cape Department of Health’s Emerantia Cupido said introducing these condoms was a way of attracting young people to practise safe sex.
The purple grape is the first of four flavours that will be on offer.
Cupido said a tender for four scented condoms was advertised and they were waiting for feedback from the national department as to when the tender would be awarded. “Other possible flavours are strawberry, banana and vanilla and this will be finalised when the tender is awarded.”
Cape Argus