The Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) distributed condoms towards Valentine’s Day in Bulawayo in a bid to encourage safe sex.
ZNFPC was targeting to distribute 30 000 male condoms and 5 000 female condoms over the week. It was noted that female condom uptake remains low in Bulawayo thus the lower target for the product.
Marketing and Communications Officer for Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council for Bulawayo and Matabeleland North Provinces, Mr Mission Gwafa said reasons for the low female condom uptake are based on socio and cultural beliefs and taboos that make it a man’s job to source condoms and negotiate for sex.
“People choose the male condoms because of the social and cultural beliefs that make it a man’s duty to source condoms. And there is always a stigma around women who buy and carry around condoms. Women depend on their male counterparts for condoms and even if they collect or buy them, they choose male condoms,” he said.
Condoms are the most encouraged form of contraception methods as they are a barrier method that provides dual protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV as well as unintended pregnancies.
The most common condom in pharmacies and supermarkets is the male condom. This is baffling though considering the number of self-proclaimed feminists in Zimbabwe. One would think that they would jump on the idea of having their own method of contraception that allows them to own their sexuality.
It is an unspoken expectation in society that the man must have the condoms. And another common unspoken expectation is that in the event a couple has unprotected sex, the male is responsible for giving the female money for the morning after pill. This is baffling though since, in the event of pregnancy and HIV infection, it is the woman that must go through nine months of pregnancy and possibly risk giving birth to an HIV positive baby.
Is the modern woman fighting the wrong battles? It seems women fight for things every day. They fight for equal paying jobs and equal human rights. They fight for equal statuses in relationships. Yet this fight disappears when it comes to wearing protection? Yet many women are sexually active. Maybe it’s time women direct their efforts towards issues that affect their daily lives like simply buying condoms to protect their health.