South Africa's condom distribution plummets by 45%
Although the supply of female condoms also dropped, the decline was less pronounced.
Condom / Pexels: Cottonbro Studio 5713041
Africa Melane interviews Bongiwe Ndlovu, Project Manager for F/A/Q.
Listen below.
In 2022, there was a 45% decrease in the distribution of male condoms by the South African government compared to 2018, plummeting from 728 million to 403 million.
Although the supply of female condoms also dropped, the decline was less pronounced.
Ndlovu attributes this reduction to procedural delays, including certification delays by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS).
F/A/Q advocates for every young person's right to a healthy and satisfying life, striving to empower youth with accessible, stigma-free health education and resources.
She explains that they've had to reorganise their programme in response to the decline, raising concerns about how to continue empowering youth.
RELATED: Glove up! Gauteng government warns of rise in STIs
Earlier this year, the Gauteng Department of Health advised against unprotected sex due to a surge in sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Ndlovu asserts that this increase is directly linked to the lack of access to condoms.
RELATED: Condom fatigue? Gauteng sees a notable increase in STIs
"There definitely has been a drop in use and availability is one of the main reasons."
- Bongiwe Ndlovu, Project Manager – F/A/Q
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.