4 months ago
(USA TODAY) -- Efforts to combat HIV in DC public high schools are running in difficulty because students reject the brand of condoms distributed free by the schools, preferring instead brands that are not purchased under contract by the district health department, a new survey shows.
Youths "have very strong opinions about particular brands of condoms," the researchers wrote. "These opinions ... factually correct or not, play an important role in a youth's decision to use a product."
"It often doesn't matter whether it's right or wrong," says DC Councilmember David Catania, who chairs the Health Committee and commissioned the study. "... whether a Durex condom is as good as a Trojan or a Magnum. It doesn't matter. It's what the perceptions are."
The results were gathered in focus groups conducted by the Youth Sexual Health Project, which was set up under a city council committee on health.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REPORT
It said young people preferred Trojan brand condoms over Lifestyles and Durex brand condoms, because they felt that Trojans "are of better quality and offer more protection." Magnums were also viewed as thicker and "do not break."
But, the survey found, they reject Durex, which they said were more likely to "pop or break."
"This is important," the survey says, "because Durex is the condom brand currently utilized by the Department of Health for the school-based free condom distribution program."
The high schoolers also said condoms are "too expensive" and that their peers would be less likely to use condoms if they had to pay for them.
"Several individuals said condoms should be free to everyone, indicating that the government should make this a formal mandate," the survey found. "Only a few participants could identify places where free condoms are distributed other than at their schools."
Comments 
