Female condom campaign rolls out in Dedza

A sexual reproductive health rights advocate in Malawi has embarked on a three-month campaign in Dedza to promote use of female condoms.

World Contraception Day Ambassador to Malawi Talimba Bandawe said the campaign is targeting youths in the 18 and 24 age group.

Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of a meeting with youth club members on Monday, Bandawe said awareness on female condoms remains low in communities despite their availability in health facilities.

“Basically, we want to promote use of female condoms among the youth who are in sexual relationships. The female condom continues to lag behind the male condom in terms of uptake, yet it is effective in preventing unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections since it has less risks of rupture,” said Bandawe.

Dedza Youth Friendly Service coordinator Joseph Chikazuma said negative attitudes of some women and girls are compromising the use of female condoms.

“They say that the female condom is too big such that it can be very difficult to put it in place while others say it causes cancer,” he said. n