Valentine’s Day, the international condom awareness day

The goal of this awareness day is to educate individuals on condom use and increase their comfort level in opening up a healthy dialogue with their partners on the benefits of condom use.

When used consistently and correctly, condoms protect against sexually transmitted infections, HIV, and unplanned pregnancies.

A comparison of the 2007-08 Tanzania HIV/AIDS and Malaria Indicator Survey and 2011-12, estimates indicate that HIV prevalence has declined slightly from 5.7% to 5.1% among adults aged 15-49.

Similarly, HIV prevalence has declined among women, from 6.6% to 6.2%, and among men, from 4.6% to 3.8% and as an organisation that fights HIV and AIDS at all levels they continue to see the need of reducing the risk of contracting the epidemic disease.

To mark this year’s international condom awareness day, a new condom named ‘Fiesta condoms’ was introduced to the Tanzanian market. The new brand was launched by DKT, an international charitable non-profit organisation that promotes family planning and HIV prevention through social marketing.

Speaking at a press briefing over the weekend in Dar es Salaam during the launch, DKT International Tanzania’s Senior Marketing Manager Davis Kambi underscored the importance of using condoms as the basic foundation to the prevention of STIs/HIV.

“This is why it is also important that condoms are affordable, accessible and attractive to consumers nationwide,” he said.

“This is the first time that we are introducing the brand to the Tanzanian market in a move to meet the ever changing needs of consumers, we know with a great degree of certainty that consumers are looking out for a vibrant and colourful brand like Fiesta,” he said noting that the DKT International condom brand was launched over 20 years ago and is available in more than 40 countries in the world.

Further, he said launch of Fiesta is part of a multi-tiered consumer driven condom strategy that focuses on availing multiple brands targeted to specific consumer groups.

“Fiest condoms cater to passionate discerning couples who seek adventurous fun and deeper meaningful emotional bonding. Fiesta is colourful, playful, expressive, cultured and boundless it is an urban contemporary brand that competes favourably against top ranked international condom brands.” He added.

Fiesta has a range of over 55 different flavoured condoms and over 60 variants but for a start DKT Tanzania has introduced 4 different variants; Fiesta Heat, Fiesta Ultra-thin, Fiesta Strawberry and Fiesta Max dotted. DKT International Tanzania plans to launch an additional three condom brands complemented with a range of variants before the close of 2016.

“Fiesta condoms retail at a price of Tshs. 1500 for a pack of 3 which is a reasonable price for an international standard condom brand. They are available in pharmacies, supermarkets, hotels, lodges and high end night clubs throughout the country,” he summed up.

The Male Condom
Among the different types of contraceptives, the male condom is a strong contender to the title of most common contraception method. It is easy to use, affordable and offers the best protection against STIs (e.g. gonorrhoea, chlamydia, HIV).

Condoms are usually made of latex, but if you are allergic to latex, some brands also specialize in condoms made of polyurethane or lambskin. These two are also compatible with lube (latex condoms are not, unless with water-based lubricant); however lambskin condoms do not provide protection against STIs.

For safety reasons, make sure you use a new condom each time you have sex.

The Female Condom

Just like the male condom, the female condom is one of the few types of contraception that you can buy over-the-counter at pharmacies and grocery stores without a prescription.
It was first introduced twenty years ago and offers 95% effective protection for pregnancy, as well as some protection against STIs. Female condoms are generally more expensive than the male ones but they are less likely to burst. They can be inserted up to eight hours before sex.

Other types of contraceptives

There are about 15 different types of contraceptives which allow you to enjoy sex without the risk of getting pregnant.

These birth control methods include: condoms, the diaphragm, birth control pills, implants, IUDs (intrauterine devices), sterilization and the emergency contraceptive pill.

Many of these methods of contraception also lower your chance of getting an STI.

The Diaphragm, placed inside the vagina so that it prevents the sperm from getting into the uterus, it doesn't protect against STIs. Cervical Cap (Femcap) is a thimble-shaped latex cup, basically like a diaphragm but smaller.

Intrauterine Device (IUD) there are two types of IUDs, hormonal and copper-based devices. Can be placed for up to five or ten years respectively. Contraceptive Implant contains progestin (progesterone), the same hormone as the contraceptive pill.

The hormone is released into your body at a steady, slow pace for three years, producing the same effects as the pill.

The Contraceptive Sponge is a small, round-shaped foam (polyurethane) placed deep inside the vagina. It contains spermicide so that sperm does not get past the foam.
Spermicide is a recurrent "ingredient" in contraception because it proves very effective when used in combination with other methods (e.g. diaphragm, sponge).

Contraceptive Injections, one shot of hormones lasts in the body for 8 to 12 weeks (3 months) and has the same effect as the pill.
The Contraceptive Patch is exactly the same thing as the contraceptive pill but in the form of a patch.

Emergency Contraception stops pregnancy if you already had unprotected sex. Sterilization is an option available to both men and women. For men, it is called vasectomy and consists tying off and cutting the tubes that carry sperm – without the need for a scalpel intervention or stitches.

This provides no protection against STIs and the effects are for life. In very rare cases (less than 1%), the tubes can grow back, making pregnancy a risk.

As for female sterilization, this is also a very simple operation after which you can go back home the very same day. You have the choice between surgical and non-surgical types of sterilization.

Surgical sterilisation (known as tubal litigation) requires very small cuts in the belly to access the Fallopian tubes, cut them and tie them so that they cannot link the ovaries with the uterus any more. The effects are permanent so you must be sure of your choice concerning sterilization.

Non-surgical sterilisation consists of placing a coil in each Fallopian tube – through the vagina and uterus – so that scars appear and eventually block each tube completely. The scars may take up to 3 months to completely block the tubes, so you need to use another method of contraception in the meantime.

Both options also offer more than 99% of protection against pregnancy (and none against STIs) because of rare cases where blocked tubes happen to grow back and reconnect (1 in 200 women).

Natural Family Planning, although not a device or a pill, this is still a method of contraception. Natural family planning relies on knowing the menstrual cycle (periods) so that couples avoid having sex when the woman is fertile.