The UNAIDS Prevention gap report shows that HIV prevention efforts must be reinvigorated if the world is to stay on the Fast-Track to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. To achieve the global Fast-Track Target of reducing the number of new HIV infections to fewer than 500 000 by 2020, more political commitment and increased investment in HIV prevention, including condom promotion, are needed.
In 2015, an estimated 1.9 million [1.7 million – 2.2 million] adults aged 15 years and over were newly infected with HIV — the vast majority through sexual transmission — and an estimated 500 million people acquired chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis or trichomoniasis. Every year, more than 200 million women have unmet needs for contraception, leading to approximately 80 million unintended pregnancies. Condoms effectively prevent all of these.
Male and female condoms are highly effective and the most widely available prevention tool, even in resource-poor settings, for people at risk of HIV infection, other sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies. Condoms are inexpensive, cost-effective and easy to store and transport, their use does not require assistance of medical or health-care personnel and they can be utilized by anyone who is sexually active. A recent global modelling analysis estimated that condoms have averted up to 45 million new HIV infections since the onset of the HIV epidemic. For many young people worldwide, condoms remain the only realistic option to protect themselves.
The promotion of consistent use of condoms is a critical component of HIV combination prevention. Condom utilization complements all other HIV prevention methods, including a reduction in the number of sexual partners, voluntary medical male circumcision, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and treatment as prevention for serodiscordant couples.
Despite increased use of condoms over the past two decades, studies show that reported use of condoms during a person’s most recent sexual encounter with a non-regular partner ranged from 80% in some countries to less than 30% in others. There is an urgent need for countries to strengthen demand for and supply of condoms and water-based lubricant. Countries agreed in the 2016 Political Declaration on Ending AIDS to increase the annual availability of condoms in low- and middle-income countries to 20 billion by 2020.