Experts

Fight Against AIDS in Uganda Affected by “Too Small” Condoms

By Cheri Cheng | Update Date: Sep 19, 2014 11:15 AM EDT

The AIDS/HIV epidemic is a major problem in Africa. According to the United Nations (UN), there were 1.6 million people living with HIV in Uganda last year with 63,000 dying from AIDS. In order to prevent the spread of this virus, efforts, such as increasing accessibility of condoms, have been taken. However, according to many Ugandan medical practitioners (MPs), some patients have been complaining that these condoms are too small.

"[Some men] have bigger sexual organs and therefore should be considered for bigger condoms," MP Tom Aza explained to the Uganda's Parliamentary Committee for HIV/AIDS according to Medical Xpress.

MP Merard Bitekyerezo added, "Some youth are complaining that the condoms they are being given, some of them are too short, their organs can't fit in them."

According to Aza, when the condom does not fit properly, it can burst under pressure during sexual activity, which then jeopardizes the health status of the sexual partner. If this condom situation is not addressed, more people could become infected with the HIV.

The rates of HIV/ADIS have gone up and down in Uganda. In 1992, there was a peak in HIV/AIDs infections at 18 percent. By 2005, the rates fell to 6.4 percent after the nation created and enforced the "ABC" strategy. The acronym stands for Abstinence, Be faithful, Condom. In 2012 however, the rates have slowly increased to 7.2 percent.

In order to prevent these numbers from rising, officials will have to devise new ways of promoting safe sex habits and address current issues, such as the size of the condoms. The MPs are pushing for increased accessibility to bigger condom sizes.

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