Awareness of condoms high among Indians: UN report

NEW DELHI: A new UN study found that 95% of Indian males believe condoms can prevent spread of disease and 70% of women know where to get them.

After three years of awareness campaigns, jointly organised by UNAIDS and the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), a report released on Wednesday revealed "dramatic results in key areas of reproductive health knowledge, HIV awareness and sexual rights".

The campaign, nicknamed 'CHARCA', has its focus on six high-prevalence districts of Aizwal, Bellary, Guntur, Kanpur, Udaipur, and Kishanganj.

The incidence of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) across the districts is down from 55% to 17%. Only 5% of  women in Guntur, 6% in Kanpur, and 8%in Kishanganj were willing to accept husbands with extra-marital relations.

The study also found that the percentage of young women aware of where to get male condoms has increased.

Across all districts, the belief that condoms protect against HIV/AIDS has increased from 65% to 95% among all men, the report said.

Awareness of single-partner sex as a preventive measure against STIs increased to 76% across districts.