Combined condom and contraceptive use among South African women

Abstract

Women across sub-Saharan Africa face multiple threats to their sexual and reproductive health. In South Africa, almost 20% of pregnancies are unwanted and an additional 36% are unintended at the time of conception, highlighting problems in access to and effective use of contraception. The heavy burden of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS, presents a further challenge to women’s health. In this context there is growing recognition of the importance of dual-method use, defined as the simultaneous use of condoms and a non-barrier contraceptive, as an important strategy for promoting reproductive health. While condoms alone do protect against both pregnancy and STI, condom use over the long term may lead to unacceptable contraceptive failure rates. Therefore, combining condom use with an effective non-barrier contraceptive, usually a hormonal method, helps to ensure effective prevention of both unwanted pregnancy and STI