Recorded presentation

M. E. Khan, PhD¹, Sharif Mohammed Ismail Hossain, MBBS MPH², and Md. Aminul Arefin². (1) Population Council, Sanga Rachana, 53 Lodi Estate, New selhi 110003, India, New Delhi, 110003, India, 91-11-24610913, mekhan@pcindia.org, (2) Popualtion Council, House #CES(B) 21, Road #118, Gulshan, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Condom is widely and easily available in Bangladesh for more than four decades. So far, use and promotion of condom in Bangladesh has been largely for family planning purposes. According to the 1999-2000 Bangladesh Health and Demographic Survey only 18 percent men and 16 percent women knew that condom can prevent STI/HIV/AIDS. Its dual purposes have never been promoted in the country. As a part of four-country study, this study examines the condom programming in Bangladesh in terms of procurement, distribution and promotional activities. Two focus group discussions and questionnaire survey with government officials, donors, SMC and NGOs were conducted. Literature review was also done in this regard. Findings show that there is very less coordination with HIV/AIDS unit of Directorate of Health and Directorate of Family Planning for the procurement, distribution, promotion and prevention of STI/HIV/AIDS activities. All condoms that are purchase by the Directorate of Family Planning are for family planning use. There is no allocation for the STI/HIV/AIDS prevention program. NGOs those who are working on STI/HIV/AIDS prevention program cannot find condom from the government unless they declare that they are working for the family planning program. Dual protection of condom is not at all promoted in the national program. Very recently, SMC started promoting it under assistance from USAID. This study concluded that such policy for distributing condom and not promoting for dual protection could be a major hinders to contain STI and HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh.

Learning Objectives:

• At the end participants will be able to understand
• · Describe policy of procurement, distribution and promotion of condom
• · List difficulties NGOs are facing in getting condom supply for STI/AIDS prevention program

Keywords: Condom Use, Policy/Policy Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation