The female condom: Dynamics of use in urban Zimbabwe

In July 1997, Population Services International (PSI), at the request of the Zimbabwe National AIDS Coordination Programme, launched a social marketing program for the female condom in Zimbabwe. To avoid stigma associated with condoms and STI prevention, the female condom was marketed as a family planning product or “contraceptive sheath” under the brand name “Care.” It was initially sold through pharmacies and clinics at a heavily subsidized retail price of US $0.24 for two; distribution has since expanded to other urban outlets, including supermarkets and convenience stores. Approximately one year after the start of the social marketing program, the Horizons Project and PSI conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional study of female condom users, male condom users, and nonusers of either barrier method. The goal is to increase understanding of the patterns and dynamics of female condom use to inform policymakers and program planners involved in decisions about promotion and distribution in Zimbabwe. In total, 493 female condom users, 633 male condom users, and 624 nonusers are included in the analyses upon which this report is based.