Condom use and availability

The Ukraine National strategies for both HIV prevention and reproductive health identified that condom sales were lower in Ukraine than in other countries with similar age profiles and with similar economic situations. The reasons for this are complex and include the high levels of abortion asa means of contraception. HIV and other STD prevention have had to be developed from this low base at a time when many other social changes are taking place. Sexual behaviour among young people is considered to be changing radically; certain STDs are rising dramatically (syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamidia), when fertility rates are dropping significantly (in part due to STDs and frequent abortions), and so-called western youth culture is generating major changes in the attitudes and behaviours of young people. Government, Church leaders and other moral guardians are showing concern about all of these changes, and are in some cases, fundamentally opposed to sex education and specifically to the use of condoms.

In July 2001 the project commissioned the international expert, Richard Pollard, to begin an investigation into the options for increasing condom use across the participating regions. His report (Richard Pollard Report) concluded that the scope for this was considerable, and the project has developed his proposals further

It is clear that Social marketing of condoms is not feasible within the budget and timescale of this project. Appropriate action for us has been to commission detailed research on attitudes to condoms.

In May 2002, research was carried out in 3 of our regions (Crimea, Sevastopol and Lviv) to identify sexual behaviour and attitudes to condom use among the age group of 12 - 28. Condom use report

In response to the findings of this survey, the summer 2002 media campaign has focussed on what we call 'condom normalisation'. Campaign Report

The Pollard report and the research study are of considerable importance not just for this project but across Ukraine. The media campaign will be developed further, and we look forward to collaborating with all those who share the objective of increasing condom use across Ukraine.

Sex industry