Building a Better Jamaica

Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Jamaica Observer

HEALTH Minister Rudyard Spencer is urging women to take charge of their sexual health and buy, carry and use condoms correctly and consistently as the nation observes Safer Sex Week.

"The responsibility to carry condoms is many times thought to be the man's, but women owe it to themselves to also take charge and protect their health," he said.

Safer Sex week is being observed until February 14, 2010 and during this time, the focus is being placed on the need for women to observe good reproductive health practices including those involving condom use.

"Our focus on women is not coincidental. Information coming out of the National HIV/STI Programme's 2008 commissioned knowledge, attitude, behaviour and practice (KABP) survey reveals that males with multiple partners were significantly more likely to have used a condom at last sex when compared to females. It was reported that 58per cent of females never carry a condom. This reliance on men to provide condoms is disadvantageous as the likelihood of risky sex is increased," the minister said.

This study also reveals that 40 per cent of males purchase condoms at the shops while only 16per cent of females do. Additionally, while 1per cent of males rely on their female partners to provi de condoms, 25 per cent of females rely on their male partners to do so.

"This puts women at particular risk because their power to negotiate condom use is usually limited even though condom use should be a shared responsibility," he said.

The National Event for Safer Sex Week will take place in Orange Park (bottom of Orange St, Downtown, across from UDC) starting at 10:00 am-- 6:00 pm tomorrow. The event will feature HIV testing. The week is being observed under the theme 'Smart Women Always Buy, Carry and Use Condoms'.