1. The Female Condom: Opportunities & Challenges in South Asia Toronto 14 August 2006 Farah Usmani Draft

2. Presentation Outline  The female condom: WHY - Need: User perspectives in South Asia  HOW is it being programmed:Experiences from the region  WHAT: Is needed to scale-up  Reflections and Recommendations CST Kathmandu/ Usmani/Aug 06

3. User perspectives from South Asia  Synthesis of existing Studies on regional users perspectives on:  Product [size, perceived necessity etc]  Tool for empowerment  Cost aspects  Increasing access  Best and least liked feature

4. The Female Condom: How Programming experiences: [1] Targeted to high risk populations [2] Social Marketing [3] Public Sector Service delivery [4] Family planning

5. Experiences in South Asia: CSWs Most studies in the region with female condoms have been with sex workers, through NGOs and on acceptability  Acceptability study in three states amongst 3 sets of target groups, namely Female Sex Workers (FSWs), Men-who- have- Sex- with-Men (MSMs) and Eligible Couples(EC). 99.9% of studies participants were FSWs.  Female Condom was officially launched in India in March 04 through Hindustan Latex Lmt with support from DFID. Initially only community based promotion was planned and product targeted to sex workers.

6. Experiences among married women/FP clinics  SRILANKA: Family Planning Association of SriLanka experience with Female condoms in clinic settings. Very little demand for female condoms at the clinic. Very limited willingness to purchase.  NEPAL : Issues related to size of the ring, disposal, spousal views, cost maximum Rs 2, product to be made available through health workers,not shops

7. Bangladesh: FC Policy  1998 National Technical Committee meetings discussed introduction of FC and need assessment of FC and protocol development and demand identified for condoms. 100,000 condoms for use in sex worker interventions approved.  National HIV/AIDS program included female condom in program package. Dropped later due to re-allocation of funds.  Product not registered in the country

8. The Female Condom: What Priorities for scaling-up

9. Reflections & Recommendations  Improve design and evaluation of programmatic interventions to strengthen regional evidence base--- poorest gender index of South Asia  Technical support and regional capacity development for scaling up  Sharing lessons learned and addressing data needs-  Developing a clear framework of approaches and actions at country level for short and long term for FC programming-write here role of regional working group/SAARC regional HIV strategy  Focused advocacy initiatives for translating commitments to Action

10. Reflections and Recommendations-2  SPECIFIC ACTION POINTS FOR THE REGION:

11. To conclude Although not a panacea, the female condom gives women a complementary option where they have greater control in initiating use which may aid in equalizing the huge gender imbalance that currently exists in South Asia.