| In the HIV era - all sexually active persons should know the importance of condoms - but research has shown that there is a gap between knowing about it and doing something about it.
PASMO today released the findings of a survey which tracked condom use by commercial sex workers and men who have sex with men.
The research was tracked in 2007 and 2010 - to see if condom use, awareness and availability had increased. The findings showed that condom use had decreased.
Country Manager Lara Smith discussed the findings:..
Lara Smith, PASMO Country Manager
"We have seen a decline for both populations."
Jules Vasquez
"A decline in the use of condoms."
Lara Smith, PASMO Country Manager
"In the use of condoms during sexual encounter. It depends somewhat on the type of client that a female sex worker will have - is it a new client? Is it an occasional client? Is it a stable partner? So condom use does vary when we talk about the different types of clients or partners that individuals will have but generally we have seen a decrease in some of those areas."
Reporter
"There is a major gap between knowledge and behavior. How do you guys propose to close this gap?"
Lara Smith, PASMO Country Manager
"Sure, that gap between knowledge and practice was most found among female sex workers and so what that says to us is that condom availability - how available are condoms within the high risk areas, within the bars and brothels where female sex workers work out of and so we working to have condoms for sale in these bars and these brothels within close proximity of these areas that individuals can access condoms."
"Part of the study findings show space for the re-introduction of Vive condoms which PASMO is the distributor for. So we are going to be looking at increasing the availability and the access of condoms within bars and brothels. So bringing bar and brothels owners to the table and tell them that they can make money off of this, and looking at that sustainability part of it. So definitely re-introduction of Vive condoms is something that over the next quarter we are going to be doing."
The full findings all 50 plus pages of it can be accessed from PASMO, which you can call at 223-7066.
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