Do condoms make sex ‘safe’?

Many sex education advocates promote the ‘safe sex’ message. Use condoms and you will not suffer any adverse consequences!

Condoms are regularly distributed in Africa in an attempt to overcome the AIDS crisis and reduce the rising HIV infection rates.

You might agree that it is a good thing to try and reduce the number of people getting AIDS.

But do condoms really solve the problem?

Despite what you might have heard in sex education classes, condoms are never 100% safe. Whilst condoms may reduce the risk of pregnancy and STDs, they certainly do not totally prevent them. And they don’t protect against the emotional consequences of sexual activity outside marriage.

A study of the research, done for the US Congress by the US National Institutes of Health in 2000, found there was a 14% failure rate for pregnancy in the first year of condom use. The failure rate for HIV infection was 15%. Condoms provide limited or no protection from some STDs, especially if lesions are not covered by the condom.

A controversy recently erupted over comments made by Pope Benedict about condoms and AIDS in Africa. The media often quoted selected parts of what he said. The most reported section was “One cannot overcome the problem with the distribution of condoms. On the contrary, they increase the problem.”

However, during his response to journalists he also noted the importance of aid programs, caring for those with HIV/AIDS, and the role of the church in addressing the problem.

He was criticised for his comment by the medical journal Lancet, which claimed that he had “distorted scientific evidence.”

We need to ask “What is really happening in Africa?”

One of the major factors influencing the spread of AIDS is promiscuity. Over the past decade, Uganda dramatically reduced the incidence of AIDS by shifting the focus away from the provision of condoms. Uganda promoted the ABC method – A – abstinence; B – Be faithful; C- condoms if the first two don’t work.

Martin Ssempa, a Ugandan pastor and government consultant on AIDS prevention, said that Uganda’s successful program “always put abstinence and being faithful ahead of any medical products such as condoms and testing.”

Dr Edward Green of Harvard University's Center for Population and Development Studies recently said that “there is a consistent association shown by our best studies, including the US-funded Demographic Health Surveys, between greater availability and use of condoms and higher (not lower) HIV-infection rates.” He attributes this in part to people “taking greater chances than one would take without the risk-reduction technology.”

In other words, if people think condoms provide ‘safe sex’ then they engage in more sexual activities.

In contrast, the Christian message is to abstain from sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman. Not only are STDS and pregnancy avoided, but the emotional consequences are also avoided.

What should be our response in dealing with the AIDS crisis in Africa, or anywhere?

Does the promotion of condoms reduce or increase sexual activity?

What education would we offer, as Christians, in this field?

Have your say on the forum

Jenny Stokes
Salt Shakers

Articles:

Pope, on plane, says church can help Africa address its problems
Catholic News Service, March 17, 2009.

Workshop Summary: Scientific Evidence on Condom Effectiveness for Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Prevention June 12-13, 2000.

Prominent Ugandan AIDS Activist Thanks Pope for Opposition to Condoms
Lifesite, March 20, 2009.

From Saint Peter’s Square to Harvard Square
National Review Online, March 19, 2009.