Are condoms slowly making way for other popular methods of contraception like pills and injections? So it seems as far as the number of people using condoms distributed by the central government free of cost through various schemes, hospitals and ASHA workers is concerned..The Union ministry of health and family welfare, in reply to an RTI dated June 13, 2018, has informed that the number of condom-users has gone down in 19 states over the last six years. Interestingly, all the Union Territories have increased figures in terms of condom-users with Dadra and Nagar Haveli posting the highest rise — 2,680 in 2016-17 from 1,116 in 2011-12.Talking to TOI, Noida-based sexuality rights activist Pallavi Barnwal said, “Condom usage is associated with various myths such as lessened gratification, pleasure and interference with sexual performance. Men also think that it’s easier for a woman to pop in an I-pill. Besides, a surge in marketing and sales of emergency contraceptive pills has also led to a decline in condom usage.”The states where the number of government-distributed condom users have gone down are Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Delhi, Tripura and Uttarakhand.In 2011-12, Rajasthan registered 10,84,700 users which dipped to 6,50,542 in 2016-17, making the state lose the highest number of users. Uttar Pradesh, which had 6,87,905 users in 2011-12, the figure has declined to 6,05,052 in 2016-17.When contacted, an official in the ministry said, “There are often misquotations from the data collectors. We are working to reduce the gap and will soon be able to upload the same on public domain.” He, however, added that it may also be true that people are increasingly opting for other methods of contraception like pills, injections, vasectomy and tubectomy for which the use of condoms has come down.Bangalore-based hotelier Sourish Ghosh feels the figures do not portray the real scenario. “How many do you think opt for government-distributed condoms? These days, the social taboo related to buying condoms is lessening and it is easy for people to avail them from pharmacies. I think a private data will show otherwise,” said Ghosh.Additional director of Jharkhand State Aids Control Society (JSACS) Dr B N Poddar feels this is good news for his state. “The scenario in Jharkhand is a bit different. Our awareness programmes are related to preventing AIDS and I believe the number of people engaging in risky sex has gone down. I believe many have also switched to other forms of contraception.”Chief medical officer of health East Mednipore (West Bengal) Dr N C Mandal said, “A lot of people these days are switching over to other forms of contraceptives like pills, Copper-Ts and injections. Earlier, there were limited options and thus condoms gained popularity.”The RTI reply shows the number of condoms distributed free of cost by the government in 2011-12 was 59,61,251 which came down to 45,76,642 in 2016-17. The data provided through the RTI also shows that the number of condom users in the country was 1,50,15,973 (figure includes free distribution and distribution under social marketing programme) in 2011-2012. This came down to 1,01,33,029 in 2016-17.A pertinent question here is can reduced use of condoms lead to a rise in sexually-transmitted diseases (STD) and also AIDS. Popping a pill can easily help one get rid of unwanted pregnancy but not the killer HIV, which condoms can effectively keep at bay. If a survey shows in future that more and more people are contracting AIDS for reduced condom usage, there is no denying the fact that we are heading towards a serious health challenge.

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