Hera Diani, Jakarta – The National AIDS Commission is running a trial on the use of female condoms in Papua to reduce the rate of new HIV infections.
The commission's secretary-general, Nafsiah Mboi, said 900 female condoms had been distributed in selected areas in the province to gauge acceptance of the contraceptive device. Papua province has the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the country.
"It's a pilot study to see how people like it, and we also train people to promote it," said the longtime HIV/AIDS activist Tuesday.
Nafsiah said she was eager to provide women with female condoms since they had proven effective in containing the epidemic in such countries as Thailand and Zimbabwe.
"The HIV infection rate is increasing much faster among women than among men in Indonesia. The percentage of new infections among women is very high. We have to provide female condoms so that women can protect themselves. Not just for injected-drug users or sex workers, but also housewives who know that their husbands are unfaithful," she said.
Women account for nearly half of HIV infections worldwide and almost two-thirds of those among young people. Yet, gender norms and inequality make it difficult for women and girls to control some aspects of their lives, particularly sexual matters.
It is often impossible for local women to negotiate with their partners over abstinence, faithfulness or condom use.
Zimbabwean activist Caroline Maposhere said the female condom was a good negotiating tool for women.
The condom is a thin, loose-fitting polyurethane plastic pouch that covers the vagina, cervix and external genitalia, and is inserted before intercourse. It can be put in up to 8 hours before sex.
"It is large because the vagina is large; it can accommodate a baby coming out. But the condom sticks to the wall of the vagina, and fits into any size vagina," Maposhere told The Jakarta Post.
She said the female condom has many advantages including preventing pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases as well as HIV/AIDS, and increasing pleasure in men and women.
"In terms of alcohol and drugs, people are often too drunk and too high to put on a condom. With the female condom, women who are injected-drug users are already protected," Maposhere said. She added that the female condom had increased condom use by 30 percent.
Nafsiah said the government should increase the availability of female condoms without waiting for the study to be completed in November. "Especially in Papua, we really can't wait a minute longer," she said.
As of Sept. 30, 2005, Indonesia has 4,065 people who are HIV positive and 4,186 people living with AIDS, according to official statistics. Local and international organizations, however, estimate that between 90,000 and 250,000 people are living with HIV/AIDS in Indonesia.
Papua, the easternmost province, has a population of only 2.5 million (out of the total Indonesian population of more than 210 million). It has 932 reported cases of AIDS, which is a rate of 40 per 100,000 individuals, or 20 times higher than the national average of two per 100,000.
The female condom costs around US$1, but Maposhere said the price will go down if demand increases. "You cannot put a price on women's lives. It's much cheaper than the cost of treatment."