D.C. Health Dept. Pushes Female Condoms In HIV Outreach Initiative

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology;  Sexual Health / STDs
Article Date: 29 Jul 2010 - 4:00 PDT

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The Washington, D.C., health department has launched a campaign to promote use of the female condom as a way to help curb the spread of HIV in the city, the AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. A 2009 study found that about 3% of the city's population over age 12 is HIV-positive. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an epidemic is "severe" when more than 1% of residents are living with the virus.

Five community groups are promoting female condoms through outreach initiatives, which are funded in part by a $500,000 grant from the MAC AIDS Fund. The groups plan to distribute 500,000 female condoms during instructional sessions held at beauty salons, barber shops, churches and restaurants. CVS also is selling female condoms at all D.C. drugstores.

City officials also have launched an ad campaign to promote female condom use, which will be featured on a website and posters on about one-third of the city's buses. The ads are expected to run for about three months and again in the spring (Gresko, AP/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 7/28).

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