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In response to complaints about the free condoms the city has been distributing to area high schools and colleges, D.C. health officials have decided to stock Trojan condoms, including the brand's larger-size product, Magnum. Students said the city-provided condoms were "cheap" and "small," and that asking school nurses for them is "just like asking grandma or auntie."
Health officials are authorizing teachers and counselors, preferably male, to distribute condoms provided they complete a 30-minute online training course called "WrapMC" ("Master of Condoms"). The previous condoms, made by Durex, will be supplemented with Trojans, considered a better-known brand. According to health experts and consumer advocates, there is no difference between Trojans and the less-expensive Durex in terms of STDs and pregnancy prevention.
Scientists and health experts say the appeal of Trojan results from the company's marketing strategy, for example, the shiny gold wrapper of the Magnum. "The gold package certainly has a little bit of the bling quality," said Michael Kharfen, spokesperson for the D.C. HIV/AIDS Administration.
The addition of Trojans to the city's condom distribution effort is expected to boost the number given away to more than 4 million this year. The Durex condoms cost Washington 5.7 cents each; Trojans are 6-9 cents each. Last year, the program cost $165,000.
City officials say spending an extra few thousand dollars to persuade young people to practice safer sex is worth it. "We thought making condoms available was a good thing, but we never asked the kids what they wanted," said D.C. Council member David A. Catania (I-At Large), chair of the health committee.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org/.
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