The Ghana HIV and AIDS Network has refuted claims that condoms available in the country do not fit the penis sizes of some Ghanaian men, describing the assertions as a myth.
Network president Ernest Amoabeng Ortsin stated that condoms on the Ghanaian market are designed to fit any size.
His comments follow reports that 1,300 applicants were rejected during a recent security services recruitment drive after testing positive for HIV.
Mr Ortsin said the figure was not surprising as it aligns statistically with Ghana’s national prevalence rate.
He added that some men often use size as an excuse to avoid using protection, but warned that a drop in condom use is contributing to a rise in infections.
“The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) examines every condom before it is approved for the Ghanaian market,” Mr Ortsin said. “It is only a myth for some men to claim that the condoms we have in the market do not fit their penis sizes. Unless the ones they are using are unapproved condoms that illegally found their way into the Ghanaian market.”
He added that the FDA-approved market offers a wide variety of standard and exotic options to suit different preferences.
According to Mr Ortsin, the reluctance to use protection stems from other factors, including a preference for unprotected sex and the stigma or shyness associated with buying condoms at a pharmacy.
Mr Ortsin also expressed concern that a lack of fear surrounding the virus has led to complacency, particularly among younger generations.
He noted that the introduction of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), which suppress the viral load to undetectable and untransmittable levels, has inadvertently emboldened some people to engage in unprotected sex, relying on medication to manage the condition.
“When we first started the national response, we had no drugs to manage the condition, so people took the issues seriously,” Mr Ortsin said. “But for some time now, we have had drugs managing the condition. Although it does not cure the virus, it provides some relief in suppressing the virus so you can live a normal life. People no longer fear it due to the antiretroviral drugs. That could be one of the factors.”
He also pointed to a decline in public health campaigns as a major reason for the shifting attitudes.
“Personally, I will say that due to the fall in campaign activities and advocacy initiatives, young people don’t have any insight into the early days of the virus and the dangers it caused,” he said. “Just recently, the Ghana Statistical Service conducted a survey indicating that the use of condoms had reduced drastically. That is also a reason contributing to the situation we currently have.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana